Conor Daly, the Juncos Hollinger Racing driver, openly admitted that he urinated in his car before the start of the 109th Indianapolis 500 last Sunday. This situation occurred after rain delays caused the drivers to sit on the grid for over 30 minutes, forcing Daly to take an unexpected and uncomfortable measure.
Details of Daly’s Uncomfortable Experience on Race Day
The delay caused by light rain tested the patience of all competitors, but Daly’s situation was especially difficult as he was confined to his car during the wait. He explained that once he relieved himself in the car, he had to endure the entire race while sitting in it. The cleaning of the car was only possible after it returned to the garage at the end of the event.
At the post-race banquet, Daly addressed the unusual topic candidly, expressing gratitude to his mechanics for handling the situation. He said,
“I want to thank my mechanics, specifically, because there’s been a lot of talk tonight and I saw on the internet a lot of toilet talk and maybe some using the bathroom because we had to wait a long time before the race,”
—Conor Daly, Driver.
He further detailed the moment, stating,
“Never in my life have I urinated in my race car, until Sunday. I was sitting on the grid, and I was like ‘this is the best car I’ve been in my whole life. I’m going to have to pee in this thing’.”
Daly added,
“I kid you not. I legitimately urinated in my race car before the race even started. Before the race even started.”
—Conor Daly, Driver.
He recounted how the extended wait was the trigger:
“People ask me like ‘when did you do it?’ and I was like ‘we didn’t even start’. We sat in there for 30 minutes. I had to go really bad.”
Daly also noted the challenges that might come with age or health, saying,
“I don’t know if it’s the diabetes or I’m just getting older. Helio [Castroneves] should know, he’s like 100. I don’t know if that happens to him a lot.”
Reflecting on the race, Daly said,
“Maybe it is getting older, but I literally did the entire race sitting in my own pee. That was a tough one.”
Humorously requesting discretion, he remarked,
“I felt like we’re in a trust tree here. We don’t have to show that on Fox. Maybe you guys can just keep that to yourselves.”
Daly thanked his team,
“So, thank you mechanics for dealing with that. I was honest. I came clean. It was an embarrassing moment…”
—Conor Daly, Driver.
Race Performance and Final Standings
Daly remained competitive throughout the race, leading for 13 laps and appearing to be a strong contender for the win. However, with just 40 laps remaining, he encountered a sudden tire drop-off that impacted his performance. He crossed the finish line in 10th place, but was later elevated to eighth following penalties imposed on Andretti teammates Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood for technical infringements.
Bathroom Challenges in Motorsport History
Instances of drivers facing bathroom-related struggles during races are not uncommon. Mark Webber, a former Red Bull Formula 1 driver, famously vomited during the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix due to food poisoning and was forced to retire. Daly acknowledged his discomfort and reluctance to experience such conditions, confessing,
“Not good. Honestly. I tell you what, it’s just not what I ever expected to do with my life.”
He also described the mental conflict he faced, sharing,
“I went through this mental battle because I thought ‘what is underneath my seat? Is this going to ruin my day? What’s going to happen?’”
Daly highlighted the advice from other drivers,
“I’ve heard drivers tell these stories before – ‘you can do it, it’s not that bad, just go’ – and I’m always like, ‘nah, you sweat too much’. It was cold. We weren’t sweating that much.”
He concluded, “That was rough.”
David Malukas Shares His Own Pre-Race Struggles
David Malukas of A.F. Foyt Racing, who was classified second following post-race penalties, also shared his difficulties with the prolonged delays at the start. He admitted,
“Before the race even started I had to pee so bad,”
—David Malukas, Driver. The wait compounded the discomfort as he struggled with the delay.
Malukas recalled the moment the race finally began:
“Then finally the green flag drops, I was able to focus on the race and immediately it was caution again. I’m like, man, we need to just go or I’m going to piss myself in this car.”
—David Malukas, Driver.
Impact and Reflection on Race Day Experiences
The revelations from Daly and Malukas shed light on the extreme physical and mental challenges that drivers endure during long and unpredictable races, particularly when unexpected delays occur. These candid admissions provide a humanizing glimpse into the intense conditions present at the Indianapolis 500, emphasizing the importance of endurance and adaptability in motorsport.
Daly’s open discussion about his experience adds to the wider conversation about the realities faced behind the scenes in professional racing. Going forward, managing these delays and their effects on drivers could be a focus for teams and race organizers, ensuring both comfort and performance are maintained under difficult circumstances.