Conor Daly, driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing, applauded Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward following a fierce battle at the IndyCar Bommarito Automotive Group 500 held at World Wide Technology Raceway. Both racers engaged in a competitive duel for the lead late in the race, highlighting O’Ward’s skill and tenacity.

Daly began the race from 15th place after an underwhelming qualifying session but quickly moved up through the field. Within the first quarter of the race, he had climbed into the top five, signaling a strong start despite his earlier setback.

Strategic Pit Stops Shake Up the Leaderboard

Approximately halfway through the race, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden suffered a serious crash that put the #2 Chevrolet upside down, triggering a full-course caution. During the caution period, all drivers pitted for new tires, including both Daly and O’Ward. Positioned fourth and fifth before the stops, they executed quick pit work and emerged first and second respectively behind the safety car.

When the green flag flew again on Lap 150, O’Ward and Daly immediately resumed their intense battle for the lead. Daly consistently used the higher line while O’Ward defended the inside track, and the pair exchanged positions several times over the next five laps.

Close Racing and Tactical Moves Define Final Stages

Daly seized the race lead on Lap 154 after overtaking O’Ward but the two remained locked in a tight battle. They ran first and second until Daly’s pit stop on Lap 190, which allowed O’Ward to regain ground. Daly admitted in post-race comments that the final pit stops cost him the chance to secure victory.

“We just kept working, every restart, moving forward. Battling with Pato felt really good for the lead. Thought we had a shot at it honestly but the last two pit stops really hurt us.” —Conor Daly

“He raced me clean. There’s a reason that guy has got a plane and a bunch of money and he’s one of the best drivers right now. He’s really good, raced me clean and I gotta respect that.” —Conor Daly

Daly’s reference to O’Ward’s financial backing comes from a prior public revelation of the Mexican driver’s salary during McLaren’s lawsuit involving Alex Palou.

Final Pit Strategy and Tire Issues Impact Daly’s Finish

Daly’s penultimate stop on Lap 190 occurred slightly earlier than the other front-runners, but the pit stop process was slower than optimal, which affected his track position. His final pit stop also failed to deliver the necessary advantage, compounded by tire degradation late in the race.

“We were better than he was for sure. Our car was better.” —Conor Daly

“We just lost too much in the pit cycle. It seemed to just fall off a little bit more (last stint).” —Conor Daly

Despite commanding pace, Daly’s difficulties in the pit lane combined with tire wear prevented him from challenging further. He ultimately finished sixth, while Pato O’Ward secured a podium position behind race winner Kyle Kirkwood.

Implications for Drivers and Upcoming Races

The intense on-track competition between Conor Daly and Pato O’Ward underscored both drivers’ talent and resilience on ovals like World Wide Technology Raceway. Daly’s commendation of O’Ward as

“one of the best drivers right now”

solidifies the Mexican driver’s reputation within the series.

Moving forward, Daly will aim to fine-tune his pit strategy and tire management to convert his race pace into better results, while O’Ward continues to build momentum for the rest of the season. Their rivalry with other leading drivers such as Kyle Kirkwood and Josef Newgarden adds compelling drama to upcoming IndyCar events.