Conor Daly has began 115 IndyCar races with ten completely different groups during the last 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 group’s first-ever podium at Milwaukee final yr. 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 lately, he had loads to say. He is laser-focused on competing for podiums — and perhaps 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 sequence’ probabilities at parity with no new automotive, 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 anything on this planet” — ought to provide you with a touch.
You are beginning a brand new alternative as a full-time driver, however having executed 5 races with Juncos already, how vital will that have be in an effort to hit the bottom working in 2025?
Preparation is so vital on this sport, and we are able to undergo weeks of taking a look at every little thing that we need to accomplish and the way we make the automobiles even higher. It eliminates a few of 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 slightly bit.
Conor Daly in his Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet at Nashville in 2024
Picture by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photos
You’re the most skilled driver this group has ever had relating to IndyCar. Do you’re feeling just like the group chief? If that’s the case, how do you address that accountability?
Having essentially the most expertise is useful. There needs to 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 feel it is nearly belief — they should 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 automotive.
The identical factor for Sting Ray, clearly, as nicely. I am certain he’ll need one thing slightly bit completely different than me, however hopefully our total efforts make the automobiles simply quicker each weekend. It is essentially the most aggressive time in IndyCar proper now. The whole lot needs to be good day by day if you wish to obtain the absolute best outcomes.
You raced for a lot of groups in IndyCar, so you realize about amenities and sources. The place does Juncos Racing rank in that checklist?
We’ve got a fantastic workshop, and we have now a fantastic group of individuals. Quite a lot of younger people, which is nice. There’s nonetheless an extended option to go. There are groups that also have triple the price range that we have now, extra automobiles and extra information for years.
One factor that we positively are restricted on is information and a mess of various years of setup work. I feel we’re punching above our weight. We’re doing fairly nicely for a smaller, extra underdog-type operation, however there are a number of good individuals on this group.
Daly taking third in Milwaukee in 2024
Picture by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photos
After all, profitable is the final word purpose — however have you ever set any particular targets that you simply need to obtain with Juncos? Final yr, the rostrum in Milwaukee was large for the group. However throughout the entire season, is there a particular purpose to attain?
I need to win the Indy 500. I do not assume there’s any cause why we should not try this. Their automobiles have been quick final yr, after which I obtained in on the finish of the season, in October, to do a take a look at day with these guys. I feel they have not truly had drivers with a number 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 feel could possibly be good. As a result of I’ve pushed a number of oval races, and I do know what I would like on the Indy 500, I feel the event work that the group is doing within the wind tunnel and over the offseason goes to be tremendous useful.
We need to win that race greater than anything on this planet. I need to win that race greater than anything on this planet.
However for me, my purpose is to show lots of people flawed on the highway and road programs. That is the place I obtained my first podium in IndyCar, and I feel individuals forgot that. I actually need to do nicely 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 number of stuff occur to me there.
After which this yr, I need to have my greatest factors yr 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, preserve ourselves up entrance, and simply be constant. It may be onerous to combat the highest groups, for certain, however I feel we have now a possibility to do it if we execute on all completely different sides of the group.
How a lot of a problem will or not it’s to beat the large groups like Penske, Ganassi, Andretti, and McLaren? It is a lengthy shot. How are you going to accomplish that?
Effectively, it’s totally onerous. Final yr I used to be with the Dreyer & Reinbold group, and so they solely do one race a yr, 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 sort of early on within the race.
The whole lot simply needs to be proper. You do all of the work throughout Might: each single follow session, each change that you simply make by the point it will get to Carb Day and race weekend, it is your job together with your engineer to simply put all the fitting puzzle items collectively. I’ve sufficient confidence there to get to the entrance irrespective of the place I begin. We have executed it earlier than. It is a lengthy day. You must have slightly little bit of luck in your aspect, for certain. However there isn’t any cause why we should not be capable to compete if we do all these issues. It is extremely troublesome, however nonetheless — I’ve extra confidence than wherever else.
“I feel if you wish to see a real reshuffle, we’d like a brand new automotive.”
Within the final three years, only one group exterior the highest 4 has been capable of win a race, which was Lundgard with Rahal in Toronto ’23. Why do you assume that — in a sequence which is meant to be degree in lots of areas — it’s so troublesome for smaller groups to step up?
Effectively, there nonetheless are open areas of growth, proper? You’ve the damper applications, which groups can spend $100 million a yr if they need it on, as a result of it is an open space of growth, proper? In Method 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 price range. And there is a cause 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 automotive for therefore lengthy. In 2016 and the early years of this automotive, you’ll see some smaller groups perhaps get a win right here and there — Dale Coyne Racing, different operations. However the enterprise has turn into 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 which may not have as a lot price range.
I feel if you wish to see a real reshuffle, we’d like a brand new automotive, hopefully within the subsequent couple of years.
Though you assume you have discovered every little thing, there’s all the time extra you’ll find in these automobiles, and the dampers and the best way the tires work — you realize, the automobiles are completely different now with the hybrid. So, how do you determine the absolute best setup for that scenario? It is sort of a story as outdated as time… the individuals who have essentially the most sources, and the most important operations, and the neatest individuals who keep collectively, and the very best drivers, normally do fairly nicely.”
However do you assume that perhaps having some sort of value cap might assist to degree issues between groups? One thing like what F1 did?
I do not assume so. Our budgets are nonetheless means lower than a Method 1 price range.
There is not any option to make motor racing simply honest for everybody. You understand what I imply? Since you’re all the time attempting to be the very best. With how aggressive all of our groups are, I feel 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 Method 1. And although we nonetheless have a few of that in IndyCar, it is a lot tighter. I do not assume you will ever be capable to actually make it simply even for everybody, as a result of then you definitely’re not on the peak of engineering, you are not counting on actually good individuals and taking probabilities technically.
I do not assume a price range cap or something is important. We’re already fairly restricted as a result of we have now so little testing. They’re positively attempting to maintain the cash underneath 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 group proprietor? How’s it been working with him now?
Effectively, truthfully, I bear in mind Ricardo from even the go-karting days, earlier than he even began a automotive racing group, and it has been spectacular. He all the time mentioned that he needed to get to the highest degree of motorsport as a group proprietor. I believed that after we received our championship, he was the group to be with, for certain. And I all the time simply adopted alongside.
We’re very shut due to that point we spent collectively in 2010. That was a yr the place all of us actually labored onerous. We slept within the trailer collectively as a result of we weren’t doing large issues with large cash — we have been simply attempting to win races. We have been simply attempting to indicate up each weekend, and we did it. So it is spectacular to see what he is executed. And it is sort of loopy, for certain, to assume that right here I’m driving for his IndyCar group. It is humorous how life works.
IndyCar grew to become fairly well-liked in Argentina with Agustin Canapino. Then individuals obtained disillusioned when he left. However Juncos continues to be an Argentinian group at its roots. Do you’re feeling help from Argentinian followers?
Actually, there’s a number of ardour from the Argentinian fan base, it doesn’t matter what it’s — whether or not it is Method 1, IndyCar, soccer, any sport, proper? You’ll be able to positively see it. And I feel I have been on each ends, of help after which a number of not help, which has been powerful. Racing is a ruthless enterprise. I obtained to know Augustín. Very good man. Some individuals nonetheless are searching for him to return again. I feel he additionally most likely needs to be in a spot the place he needs to be, too. Being profitable in Argentina, I feel, is superior for him. I nonetheless observe him on the web, so I see every little thing that he is doing.
The help from Argentina has been nice. And, you realize, 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 simply help.
However I do know Ricardo [Juncos] very nicely, and I do know that he’s a fantastic illustration for Argentina. And I might like to see us racing in Argentina! IndyCar must be down there —I feel that may be tremendous cool. It is a very passionate fan base.
You sort of went into my subsequent query, which was concerning the calendar. There have been some talks with Argentina up to now. Now, Mexico appears to be gaining some momentum in direction of 2026 with Pato O’Ward, after all. What do you consider IndyCar increasing exterior the U.S.?
Yeah, I feel that for certain we’d be capable to 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 have been there. If that many individuals have 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 appropriately. However I do not essentially assume the transfer for us is to go to Europe. I feel 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 realize, in America this yr with Fox, it is going to be useful, I hope.
However I do not know once we will get to try this. The game has to develop total. If the game grows and persons are prepared to pay for IndyCar to be there and it is a money-making alternative for everybody, then I feel it will work. Hopefully we are able to do it. I feel it could be a fantastic concept.
Moreover your job as a full-time IndyCar driver, you additionally run your personal podcast, Pace Avenue. What motivates you to do it? May it lead you to do some broadcasting work while you cease racing?
I positively 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 broaden my very own model. It is a possibility to speak to extra individuals.
I feel if you happen to’re studying one thing from all of the individuals that you simply interview, that may solely assist your personal thoughts — and perhaps as a race automotive driver, show you how to enhance from listening to different drivers and seeing what is going on on of their minds.
All of us should 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 preserve attempting to offer individuals one thing that they may need to hearken to, and hopefully inform a good friend, like, “Hey, IndyCar is cool — you bought to look at it.” And that is what we’d like, extra of that.
Are you desperate to attempt NASCAR once more?
I imply, I might love to offer a full season of the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence a shot — however it needs to be with the fitting group. I have been within the worst doable conditions in NASCAR, and it is positively not enjoyable to be in these conditions. However it appeared just like the Sam Hunt Racing group that I used to be with final yr on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we obtained in and competed and certified nicely, raced on the entrance. And when you’ve gotten an opportunity to run with a aggressive group, that is actually cool.
However I am centered on being an IndyCar driver first. And once more, the one means I might go NASCAR racing is that if I’ve a ton of economic backing behind me. I haven’t got that, actually. If, for some cause, IndyCar would not work out after a pair years, or after nevertheless lengthy, I might love to offer the NASCAR stuff a shot, for a season at the least.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Federico Faturos
IndyCar
Conor Daly
Juncos Hollinger Racing
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