Kanaan's monkey love.

Tony Kanaan, the defending champion of the Bombardier Learjet 500 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, arrived in the Lone Star State on Tuesday and engaged in some light-hearted monkey business at the Dallas Zoo.

Kanaan, also the defending series champion, blended the relaxing visit with important contributions to the area's most prestigious zoo and his native country. Knowing Kanaan's love for primates, Texas Motor Speedway adopted a chimpanzee and a pair of Brazilian monkeys on his behalf from the Dallas Zoo's adopt-an-animal programme.

He was presented the official adoption papers and framed photos of his new "children" that consisted of Toby, a 48-year-old resident of the Zoo's Chimpanzee Forest, and the duo of Gizmo and Zahavi, which are both Golden Lion Tamarins. The tamarins, which will reside in Tamarin Tree Tops zoo area that will open later this summer, will be especially close to Kanaan's heart since they are an endangered species in his native country of Brazil.

"It's great that the zoo here in Dallas is helping out with the Brazilian tamarins," Kanaan said. "I heard they are currently in quarantine right now, but hopefully when I come to Dallas later this year I can visit with them. I really appreciate this, it is special to me."

Kanaan has had a love for monkeys and gorillas since he was a child and sports a gorilla tattoo on his right bicep. The primates supposedly bring him luck and adoring fans have responded over the years by sending him stuffed ones as gifts. Now he is enjoying the real deal - and he relished the moment at the Dallas Zoo.

"I will be a proud parent," Kanaan said of Toby. Then he told Toby through a glass barrier, "Son, listen to me. If we get in trouble, we will go after them together!"

Zookeepers updated Kanaan on Toby's habits and mannerisms as he interacted with the other chimpanzees. Kanaan and his wife Dani then joined zookeeper Keith Zorojewski in feeding the chimps from an aerial observation deck.

"I am going to throw my son the first banana!" Kanaan exclaimed to onlookers.

Kanaan will turn serious on Thursday when the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series machines take to the ultra-quick 1.5-mile speedway for qualifying ahead of Saturday's 200-lap blast around the track nicknamed 'The Great American Speedway.'

Kanaan has a victory and a pair of runner-up finishes in four career Texas starts for Andretti Green Racing.