At the recent IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio, Santino Ferrucci and Conor Daly were embroiled in a tense on-track incident that nearly sent Daly’s car into the barrier. Following the race, Daly openly criticized Ferrucci’s behavior, intensifying the ongoing Santino Ferrucci IndyCar rivalry between the two drivers.

The discord between Daly and Ferrucci traces back to 2022 during Indy 500 practice when Ferrucci blocked Daly’s attempt to pass inside. This incident sparked a series of clashes, including heated exchanges online, where Ferrucci pointed out that Daly’s best career finish was only 11th place. Daly fired back by bringing up Ferrucci’s previous race ban in Formula 2, fueling the tension further.

During the Mid-Ohio race, their rivalry reignited dramatically. Ferrucci was using an alternate tire strategy while Daly was conserving fuel. Daly gave Ferrucci the inside line, planning to approach the next corner from the outside, which would become the inside line thereafter. Instead, Ferrucci aggressively dove inside, ran wide, and their tires made contact.

This contact pushed Daly off the track towards the grass, with Ferrucci also losing traction on the grass. Although Daly narrowly avoided crashing into the barrier, he lost track position and momentum. Afterward, Ferrucci was penalized three places by race stewards, dropping from 18th to 21st.

Conor Daly Addresses the Incident and Santino Ferrucci’s Conduct

In a recent episode of the Speed Street podcast, Daly expressed his frustration over Ferrucci’s actions, condemning what he described as a blatant disregard for respect in the sport. Daly stated:

“I don’t know how in your mind you think, all right, I’m actually gonna ruin my race and lose track position in the race that I am trying to compete in and earn points for my team, my sponsors.

“And I’ve said this before on this show, we’ve literally talked about the same thing. The lack of respect that Santino actually has for the effort that goes into this type of racing, to throw it away purely because he either doesn’t care or doesn’t know what’s going on or doesn’t like me,” added Daly.

The comments highlight the deeper tension between the two drivers, reflecting a long-running rivalry marked by both on-track clashes and verbal confrontations.

Daly’s Public Criticism and Penalties Following Mid-Ohio Clash

Following the incident at Mid-Ohio, Daly took to social media to call out Ferrucci’s conduct. He referred to Ferrucci as a “clown” in a tweet responding to the on-track collision, demonstrating his growing frustration with the AJ Foyt Racing driver’s aggressive driving style.

Race officials penalized Ferrucci by demoting him three places, enforcing consequences for the clash that affected both drivers’ race positions. Despite the penalty, this incident intensified the rivalry, adding another dramatic chapter to their contentious history.

The rivalry between Conor Daly and Santino Ferrucci poses ongoing challenges for both drivers as they compete fiercely on the IndyCar circuit. Their confrontations not only impact race outcomes but also fuel a storyline of personal and professional contention that is likely to draw more attention in upcoming races.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Santino Ferrucci still Racing?

A. In 2023, Ferrucci came back to IndyCar for a full season, joining A.J. Foyt Racing along with Indy Lights graduate Benjamin Pedersen.