Hero's welcome for Kanaan in Brazil.

IRL IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan returned to a hero's welcome upon his return to Brazil last weekend.

"The reception I got from the fans here has been a big one, bigger than I expected, and I'm very pleased," he said. "It is the best thing that can happen to a driver. You pursue your dream and you win the championship, but when you get recognized, especially by your fans from your home country, it is pretty good."

Kanaan spent the weekend at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, where he was cheering for Rubens Barrichello in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Kanaan and Barrichello have been friends since childhood.

"I told him if I can bring him all the luck I had this year," Kanaan said. "I'll let him borrow it here, and then he will give it back to me after this race."

Barrichello used some of that luck as he drove his Ferrari to third place. Juan Pablo Montoya, winner of the 2000 Indianapolis 500, won the race in a Williams-BMW. Kimi Raikkonen finished second in a McLaren-Mercedes.

Barrichello, who won the 2002 United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is a big fan of Kanaan's.

"I think Tony is one of the talents that went to America," Barrichello said. "He won the championship in a nice way."

Kanaan said that the thrill of winning the IndyCar Series championship is still sinking in.

"It is definitely a dream come true after all those years fighting for a spot in the sun," he said. "It is the result of a lot of teamwork and effort, and me persisting in what I want to do. It is still sinking in, and it is not 100 percent in yet. But now that I am here in Brazil, the fans are congratulating me and the people are making me feel it more and more."

Kanaan's achievements resulted in an invitation to meet with Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on October 25th.

"I think that is awesome," Kanaan said. "It's a big thing for me; to meet your own president of your own country, and especially when he just calls you and invites you to come and meet him. He wants to congratulate me, so that is definitely big."

After meeting the president, Kanaan planned to spend some time relaxing with Barrichello. The IndyCar Series and Formula One seasons are over, and it's time to go on vacation.

"We are going to spend a lot of time together," Kanaan said of Barrichello. "We have a go-kart race to do, and we are going on vacation together."

Kanaan was one of several famous Brazilian drivers to visit the paddock during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. Gil de Ferran, winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500 and another good friend of Barrichello's was there as was Emerson Fittipaldi, winner of the 1989 and 1993 Indianapolis 500 and the 1972 and 1974 Formula One World Champion, and Nelson Piquet, the World Champion in 1981, 1983 and 1986.