DETROIT – Tony Kanaan is no stranger to charging past the competition on a mission to the front of the field.

Kanaan’s assault was on full display again Sunday in Race 2 of the Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit presented by Lear. The 43-year-old Brazilian had to come from the back of the grid after a mishap in qualifying, but rallied for season-best seventh-place finish.

Due to wet conditions during qualifying, Kanaan spun on course, breaking his front wing. It relegated him to starting 22nd in the 23-car field. Fortunately, no major repairs were needed for the No. 14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet before the 70-lap event on the Raceway at Belle Isle Park

“We made no changes after qualifying. That was my bad, my mistake,” Kanaan said of the qualifying incident. “We just put a new nose on and drove the wheels off of the car in the race. It was fun.”

Kanaan is known throughout the paddock as being one of the best at carving his way through the field throughout his illustrious career. He gained five positions on the first lap around the 2.35-mile temporary street course on Sunday and moved into the top 10 by Lap 23.

The 21-year Indy car veteran, using a strategy of three pit stops, rose as high as third place and settled into the top 10 for the final 30 laps. His 15 positions gained from start to finish were easily the most of any driver in the race.

Kanaan, who made his 351st career start and 291st in a row, is hopeful and feeling positive that the performance will lead to more of the same for the rest of the 2018 season.

“It’s promising to see this. We’ve struggled at times,” said Kanaan, the 2007 winner at Belle Isle. “We started way, way back today.

“It was awesome to be able to go through the field. It wasn’t just pit strategy that got us up the field. I had to drive past some cars, too, which was fun.

“That was our highest finish of the year so far and I’m excited to keep working.”

Kanaan and the Foyt team head to their home race this week, the DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 9. Taking heart in seeing Ryan Hunter-Reay end a 43-race win drought in Sunday’s race gives Kanaan hope that he can end his own winless streak that dates to the 2014 season finale, 58 starts ago.

The DXC Technology 600 will air live at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.