Conor Daly has began 115 IndyCar races with ten totally different groups over the past 12 years, plus put in seat time throughout NASCAR, GP3, and a stint as an F1 take a look at driver. He secured his full-time 2025 IndyCar run within the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger IndyCar after after incomes the staff’s first-ever podium at Milwaukee final 12 months. The 33-year-old Indiana native has earned the respect of the paddock — and is not afraid to say what’s on his thoughts.
And when Motorsport caught up with Daly not too long ago, he had loads to say. He is laser-focused on competing for podiums — and possibly even an enormous win — this season. However Daly additionally has his eyes on the state of the game itself.
Under, Daly will get into all of it: IndyCar’s enlargement exterior U.S. borders, the collection’ probabilities at parity with no new automobile, his probabilities at a NASCAR return, and whether or not Juncos can win the Indy 500. His line — “I need to win that race greater than the rest on this planet” — ought to offer you a touch.
You are beginning a brand new alternative as a full-time driver, however having performed 5 races with Juncos already, how essential will that have be in an effort to hit the bottom working in 2025?
Preparation is so essential on this sport, and we will undergo weeks of every little thing that we need to accomplish and the way we make the automobiles even higher. It eliminates among the questions that you’d have in your thoughts earlier than going into a brand new setting, as a result of I used to be already there. I already know the system just a little bit.
Conor Daly in his Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet at Nashville in 2024
Picture by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Pictures
You’re the most skilled driver this staff has ever had in terms of IndyCar. Do you are feeling just like the staff chief? If that’s the case, how do you deal with that accountability?
Having essentially the most expertise is useful. There must be somebody to guide us in a sure course. I have been in groups earlier than the place my teammate has been the extra skilled driver. I believe it is nearly belief — they need to belief what I am saying, and I’ve to belief that they are going to have the ability to ship what I would like out of the automobile.
The identical factor for Sting Ray, clearly, as effectively. I am positive he’ll need one thing just a little bit totally different than me, however hopefully our general efforts make the automobiles simply sooner each weekend. It is essentially the most aggressive time in IndyCar proper now. All the pieces must be good each day if you wish to obtain the very best outcomes.
You raced for a lot of groups in IndyCar, so you recognize about services and assets. The place does Juncos Racing rank in that record?
We’ve got an ideal workshop, and we have now an ideal group of individuals. A number of younger people, which is sweet. There’s nonetheless an extended option to go. There are groups that also have triple the funds that we have now, extra automobiles and extra knowledge for years.
One factor that we undoubtedly are restricted on is knowledge and a mess of various years of setup work. I believe we’re punching above our weight. We’re doing fairly effectively for a smaller, extra underdog-type operation, however there are a variety of good individuals on this staff.
Daly taking third in Milwaukee in 2024
Picture by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Pictures
In fact, successful is the last word aim — however have you ever set any particular targets that you just need to obtain with Juncos? Final 12 months, the rostrum in Milwaukee was big for the staff. However throughout the entire season, is there a particular aim to attain?
I need to win the Indy 500. I do not suppose there’s any purpose why we should not do this. Their automobiles had been quick final 12 months, after which I acquired in on the finish of the season, in October, to do a take a look at day with these guys. I believe they have not truly had drivers with a variety of oval expertise of their automobiles earlier than. So there was loads that I instantly was capable of decide up on that I did not like, and stuff that I believe may very well be good. As a result of I’ve pushed a variety of oval races, and I do know what I would like on the Indy 500, I believe the event work that the staff is doing within the wind tunnel and over the offseason goes to be tremendous useful.
We need to win that race greater than the rest on this planet. I need to win that race greater than the rest on this planet.
However for me, my aim is to show lots of people mistaken on the street and road programs. That is the place I acquired my first podium in IndyCar, and I believe individuals forgot that. I actually need to do effectively there and begin off robust within the season. The Indy Highway Course is a spot that I actually need to win — that I really feel like I have been very near earlier than, however I’ve had a variety of stuff occur to me there.
After which this 12 months, I need to have my finest factors 12 months of all time. We need to be constant each weekend. We do not need to have any DNFs. We do not need to have any foolish errors. Simply need to rating factors on a regular basis, maintain ourselves up entrance, and simply be constant. It should be arduous to battle the highest groups, for positive, however I believe we have now a possibility to do it if we execute on all totally different sides of the staff.
How a lot of a problem will or not it’s to beat the massive groups like Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, and McLaren? It is a lengthy shot. How will you accomplish that?
Properly, it’s totally arduous. Final 12 months I used to be with the Dreyer & Reinbold staff, they usually solely do one race a 12 months, proper? So, exhibiting up, to have the ability to exit and lead the race and run on the entrance with these guys, although we had a shock failure type of early on within the race.
All the pieces simply must be proper. You do all of the work throughout Might: each single apply session, each change that you just make by the point it will get to Carb Day and race weekend, it is your job along with your engineer to only put all the proper puzzle items collectively. I’ve sufficient confidence there to get to the entrance irrespective of the place I begin. We have performed it earlier than. It is a lengthy day. It’s important to have just a little little bit of luck in your aspect, for positive. However there is not any purpose why we should not be capable of compete if we do all these issues. It is vitally tough, however nonetheless — I’ve extra confidence than anyplace else.
“I believe if you wish to see a real reshuffle, we’d like a brand new automobile.”
Within the final three years, only one staff exterior the highest 4 has been capable of win a race, which was Lundgard with Rahal in Toronto ’23. Why do you suppose that — in a collection which is meant to be degree in lots of areas — it’s so tough for smaller groups to step up?
Properly, there nonetheless are open areas of growth, proper? You may have the damper applications, which groups can spend $100 million a 12 months if they need it on, as a result of it is an open space of growth, proper? In Formulation 1, every little thing’s open for growth. However with us, there nonetheless is a profit to having a big group of engineers [and] a considerable amount of technical growth funds. And there is a purpose why the groups that spend essentially the most cash go the quickest. I imply, that is simply what it’s.
So it’s a little bit more durable for the smaller groups. And we have clearly had the identical automobile for therefore lengthy. In 2016 and the early years of this automobile, you’ll see some smaller groups possibly get a win right here and there — Dale Coyne Racing, different operations. However the enterprise has grow to be so refined that on the finish of the day, the larger groups are discovering smaller quantities, however they’re discovering extra of it than the groups that may not have as a lot funds.
I believe if you wish to see a real reshuffle, we’d like a brand new automobile, hopefully within the subsequent couple of years.
Regardless that you suppose you’ve got discovered every little thing, there’s at all times extra you will discover in these automobiles, and the dampers and the best way the tires work — you recognize, the automobiles are totally different now with the hybrid. So, how do you determine the very best setup for that state of affairs? It is type of a story as outdated as time… the individuals who have essentially the most assets, and the most important operations, and the neatest individuals who keep collectively, and the very best drivers, normally do fairly effectively.”
However do you suppose that possibly having some type of price cap may assist to degree issues between groups? One thing like what F1 did?
I do not suppose so. Our budgets are nonetheless approach lower than a Formulation 1 funds.
There is not any option to make motor racing simply honest for everybody. what I imply? Since you’re at all times making an attempt to be the very best. With how aggressive all of our groups are, I believe we’re nonetheless actually fortunate. Even in NASCAR, the discrepancy between the highest groups and the underside groups is loads, and it is the identical in Formulation 1. And although we nonetheless have a few of that in IndyCar, it is a lot tighter. I do not suppose you will ever be capable of actually make it simply even for everybody, as a result of then you definately’re not on the peak of engineering, you are not counting on actually good individuals and taking probabilities technically.
I do not suppose a funds cap or something is critical. We’re already fairly restricted as a result of we have now so little testing. They’re undoubtedly making an attempt to maintain the cash beneath management. We’ve got, like, one take a look at day earlier than the season begins.
You knew Ricardo Juncos out of your title run in 2010. How a lot has he developed as a staff proprietor? How’s it been working with him now?
Properly, actually, I keep in mind Ricardo from even the go-karting days, earlier than he even began a automobile racing staff, and it has been spectacular. He at all times mentioned that he wished to get to the highest degree of motorsport as a staff proprietor. I believed that after we gained our championship, he was the staff to be with, for positive. And I at all times simply adopted alongside.
We’re very shut due to that point we spent collectively in 2010. That was a 12 months the place all of us actually labored arduous. We slept within the trailer collectively as a result of we weren’t doing large issues with large cash — we had been simply making an attempt to win races. We had been simply making an attempt to point out up each weekend, and we did it. So it is spectacular to see what he is performed. And it is type of loopy, for positive, to suppose that right here I’m driving for his IndyCar staff. It is humorous how life works.
IndyCar turned fairly well-liked in Argentina with Agustin Canapino. Then individuals acquired upset when he left. However Juncos remains to be an Argentinian staff at its roots. Do you are feeling assist from Argentinian followers?
Actually, there’s a variety of ardour from the Argentinian fan base, it doesn’t matter what it’s — whether or not it is Formulation 1, IndyCar, soccer, any sport, proper? You’ll be able to undoubtedly see it. And I believe I have been on each ends, of assist after which a variety of not assist, which has been powerful. Racing is a ruthless enterprise. I acquired to know Augustín. Very good man. Some individuals nonetheless are on the lookout for him to return again. I believe he additionally in all probability needs to be in a spot the place he needs to be, too. Being profitable in Argentina, I believe, is superior for him. I nonetheless observe him on the web, so I see every little thing that he is doing.
The assist from Argentina has been nice. And, you recognize, you possibly can like me or not. I do not actually thoughts, as a result of that is what I like about sport. You’ll be able to have your individuals that you just assist.
However I do know Ricardo [Juncos] very effectively, and I do know that he’s an ideal illustration for Argentina. And I’d like to see us racing in Argentina! IndyCar must be down there —I believe that may be tremendous cool. It is a very passionate fan base.
You type of went into my subsequent query, which was in regards to the calendar. There have been some talks with Argentina previously. Now, Mexico appears to be gaining some momentum in the direction of 2026 with Pato O’Ward, after all. What do you consider IndyCar increasing exterior the U.S.?
Yeah, I believe that for positive we’d be capable of race in Mexico. Clearly, Pato has such a passionate fan base. However from what I noticed, even with Ricardo and Augustín doing the laps that they did in Argentina, the followers that had been there. If that many individuals had been there for an indication, why are we not racing there? Like, why are we not down there instantly?
Clearly, it takes much more than I do know of — organizing an occasion and promoting tickets, ensuring nobody loses a bunch of cash and it is all supported accurately. However I do not essentially suppose the transfer for us is to go to Europe. I believe the North, South America, Central America — like, that area of the world — might be a greater space for us to give attention to. And, you recognize, in America this 12 months with Fox, it will likely be useful, I hope.
However I do not know once we will get to do this. The game has to develop general. If the game grows and individuals are keen to pay for IndyCar to be there and it is a money-making alternative for everybody, then I believe it will work. Hopefully we will do it. I believe it will be an ideal thought.
Apart from your job as a full-time IndyCar driver, you additionally run your individual podcast, Pace Road. What motivates you to do it? Might it lead you to do some broadcasting work while you cease racing?
I undoubtedly need to be in TV broadcasting, if I can do it. I like speaking about racing, and I like to have an opportunity to inform individuals about it. I do the podcast purely as a result of it is a possibility to increase my very own model. It is a possibility to speak to extra individuals.
I believe should you’re studying one thing from all of the individuals that you just interview, that may solely assist your individual thoughts — and possibly as a race automobile driver, enable you to enhance from listening to different drivers and seeing what is going on on of their minds.
All of us need to work collectively to develop the game that we love. And IndyCar proper now must develop. And it takes all of us to get it there. I will maintain making an attempt to present individuals one thing that they could need to hearken to, and hopefully inform a pal, like, “Hey, IndyCar is cool — you bought to look at it.” And that is what we’d like, extra of that.
Are you desirous to attempt NASCAR once more?
I imply, I’d love to present a full season of the NASCAR Xfinity Collection a shot — however it must be with the proper staff. I have been within the worst potential conditions in NASCAR, and it is undoubtedly not enjoyable to be in these conditions. But it surely appeared just like the Sam Hunt Racing staff that I used to be with final 12 months on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we acquired in and competed and certified effectively, raced on the entrance. And when you’ve got an opportunity to run with a aggressive staff, that is actually cool.
However I am centered on being an IndyCar driver first. And once more, the one approach I may go NASCAR racing is that if I’ve a ton of economic backing behind me. I haven’t got that, actually. If, for some purpose, IndyCar does not work out after a pair years, or after nevertheless lengthy, I’d love to present the NASCAR stuff a shot, for a season at the very least.
Learn Additionally:
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Federico Faturos
IndyCar
Conor Daly
Juncos Hollinger Racing
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