Indy Champ Tony Kanaan -- I Won't Let Valets Park My Car!

IndyCar champ Tony Kanaan says his car is like his second wife ... and nobody gets to put their hands on it but him ... which is why he refuses to let valets park it at restaurants.

Kanaan -- who took the checkered flag at the MAVTV 500 in Fontana this weekend -- was out at Club Nokia in L.A. and told us why he's so protective of his ride.

However, there is one exception ...

"If it's a RENTAL car, I'll let the guy valet it ... if it's MY car, I will pay him extra then I want it to park and usually I ask to park up front."