Conor Daly thinks IndyCar ought to race in Mexico and Argentina “instantly”

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 group’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 so much to say. He is laser-focused on competing for podiums — and perhaps even a giant win — this season. However Daly additionally has his eyes on the state of the game itself.

Beneath, Daly will get into all of it: IndyCar’s growth exterior U.S. borders, the collection’ 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 the rest on this planet” — ought to provide you with a touch.

You are beginning a brand new alternative as a full-time driver, however having performed 5 races with Juncos already, how vital will that have be with a purpose to hit the bottom operating in 2025?

Preparation is so vital on this sport, and we are able to undergo weeks of taking a look at every thing that we need to accomplish and the way we make the vehicles even higher. It eliminates a number 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 a bit of bit.

Conor Daly in his Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet at Nashville in 2024

Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photographs

You’re the most skilled driver this group has ever had with regards to IndyCar. Do you are feeling just like the group chief? In that case, how do you address that accountability?

Having essentially the most expertise is useful. There must be somebody to steer us in a sure path. I have been in groups earlier than the place my teammate has been the extra skilled driver. I feel 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 need out of the automotive.

The identical factor for Sting Ray, clearly, as properly. I am certain he’ll need one thing a bit of bit totally different than me, however hopefully our general efforts make the vehicles simply quicker each weekend. It is essentially the most aggressive time in IndyCar proper now. All the things must be good every single day if you wish to obtain the very best outcomes. 

You raced for a lot of groups in IndyCar, so you already know about services and assets. The place does Juncos Racing rank in that record?

We’ve got a fantastic workshop, and now we have a fantastic group of individuals. Plenty of younger people, which is sweet. There’s nonetheless a protracted approach to go. There are groups that also have triple the finances that now we have, extra vehicles and extra information for years.

One factor that we undoubtedly 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 properly for a smaller, extra underdog-type operation, however there are a whole lot of good folks on this group. 

Daly taking third in Milwaukee in 2024

Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photographs

After all, successful is the last word purpose — however have you ever set any particular targets that you simply need to obtain with Juncos? Final 12 months, the rostrum in Milwaukee was enormous for the group. However throughout the entire season, is there a selected 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 vehicles had been quick final 12 months, after which I bought 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 really had drivers with a whole lot of oval expertise of their vehicles earlier than. So there was so much that I instantly was capable of choose up on that I did not like, and stuff that I feel could possibly be good. As a result of I’ve pushed a whole lot of oval races, and I do know what I need 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 the rest on this planet. I need to win that race greater than the rest 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 bought my first podium in IndyCar, and I feel folks forgot that. I actually need to do properly 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 whole lot 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’ll be onerous to battle the highest groups, for certain, however I feel now we have a chance to do it if we execute on all totally different sides of the group.

How a lot of a problem will 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?

Nicely, it’s extremely onerous. Final 12 months I used to be with the Dreyer & Reinbold group, they usually solely do one race a 12 months, proper? So, displaying 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.

All the things simply must be proper. You do all of the work throughout Could: each single observe 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 correct 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 a must to have a bit of little bit of luck in your aspect, for certain. However there isn’t any cause why we should not have the ability to compete if we do all these issues. It is extremely tough, however nonetheless — I’ve extra confidence than anyplace else.

“I feel if you wish to see a real reshuffle, we want 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 collection which is meant to be degree in lots of areas — it’s so tough for smaller groups to step up?

Nicely, there nonetheless are open areas of improvement, proper? You have got 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 improvement, proper? In Components 1, every thing’s open for improvement. However with us, there nonetheless is a profit to having a big group of engineers [and] a considerable amount of technical improvement finances. 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 tougher 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’d 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 that may not have as a lot finances.

I feel if you wish to see a real reshuffle, we want a brand new automotive, hopefully within the subsequent couple of years.

Regardless that you assume you have discovered every thing, there’s at all times extra you could find in these vehicles, and the dampers and the best way the tires work — you already know, the vehicles are totally different now with the hybrid. So, how do you determine the very best setup for that state of affairs? It is sort of a story as previous as time… the individuals who have essentially the most assets, and the most important operations, and the neatest individuals who keep collectively, and the perfect drivers, normally do fairly properly.”

However do you assume that perhaps having some sort of price 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 Components 1 finances.

There is not any approach to make motor racing simply truthful for everybody. You already know what I imply? Since you’re at all times making an attempt to be the perfect. 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 so much, and it is the identical in Components 1. And although we nonetheless have a few of that in IndyCar, it is a lot tighter. I do not assume you may ever have the ability 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 folks and taking probabilities technically.

I do not assume a finances cap or something is critical. We’re already fairly restricted as a result of now we have so little testing. They’re undoubtedly making an attempt 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 advanced as a group proprietor? How’s it been working with him now?

Nicely, actually, I keep in mind Ricardo from even the go-karting days, earlier than he even began a automotive racing group, and it has been spectacular. He at all times stated that he wished to get to the highest degree of motorsport as a group proprietor. I assumed that after we received our championship, he was the group to be with, for certain. 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 onerous. We slept within the trailer collectively as a result of we weren’t doing huge issues with huge cash — we had been simply making an attempt to win races. We had been simply making an attempt to indicate up each weekend, and we did it. So it is spectacular to see what he is performed. 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 turned fairly in style in Argentina with Agustin Canapino. Then folks bought upset when he left. However Juncos remains to be an Argentinian group at its roots. Do you are feeling assist from Argentinian followers? 

Actually, there’s a whole lot of ardour from the Argentinian fan base, it doesn’t matter what it’s — whether or not it is Components 1, IndyCar, soccer, any sport, proper? You may undoubtedly see it. And I feel I have been on each ends, of assist after which a whole lot of not assist, which has been robust. Racing is a ruthless enterprise. I bought to know Augustín. Very good man. Some folks 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 comply with him on the web, so I see every thing that he is doing.

The assist from Argentina has been nice. And, you already know, you may like me or not. I do not actually thoughts, as a result of that is what I really like about sport. You may have your folks that you simply assist.

However I do know Ricardo [Juncos] very properly, 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 will 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 previously. 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 have the ability 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 had been there. If that many individuals had been there for an illustration, 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 concentrate on. And, you already know, 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 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, Velocity Road. What motivates you to do it? May it lead you to do some broadcasting work whenever you cease racing?

I undoubtedly need to be in TV broadcasting, if I can do it. I really like speaking about racing, and I like to have an opportunity to inform folks about it. I do the podcast purely as a result of it is a chance to increase my very own model. It is a chance to speak to extra folks.

I feel should you’re studying one thing from all of the folks that you simply interview, that may solely assist your personal thoughts — and perhaps as a race automotive driver, make it easier 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 offer folks one thing that they may need to hearken to, and hopefully inform a good friend, like, “Hey, IndyCar is cool — you bought to observe it.” And that is what we want, extra of that.

Are you wanting to strive NASCAR once more?

I imply, I might love to offer a full season of the NASCAR Xfinity Collection a shot — but it surely must be with the correct group. I have been within the worst doable conditions in NASCAR, and it is undoubtedly not enjoyable to be in these conditions. However it appeared just like the Sam Hunt Racing group that I used to be with final 12 months on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, we bought in and competed and certified properly, raced on the entrance. And when you have got an opportunity to run with a aggressive group, that is actually cool.

However I am targeted 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 monetary backing behind me. I haven’t got that, actually. If, for some cause, IndyCar does not work out after a pair years, or after nevertheless lengthy, I might love to offer the NASCAR stuff a shot, for a season a minimum of.