Conor Daly reflected on a disappointing turn of events during Race 2 of the IndyCar Iowa double-header, where he fell from a potential Top 5 finish to outside the Top 15. The shift occurred after a late-race crash involving Colton Herta triggered a caution that overturned the race order just as Daly was making a pit stop.
Drivers who pitted moments before the caution, including Race leader Josef Newgarden and Daly, were pushed to the back of the field. Starting on the front row alongside pole-sitter Alex Palou, Daly’s No. 76 Chevy had shown strong pace and was on track for a Top 5 result before the late incident.
On his Speed Street podcast, Daly described the setback as painfully frustrating, saying:
“The yellow comes out at the worst possible time ever and literally completely flips our day and makes it a trash bin. This one hurt so badly because as a driver, it’s really freakin’ hard work to do this stuff,” Conor Daly said. [7:34 onwards].
He added a vivid description of how the outcome felt personally damaging:
“We qualified the thing on the front row, ran up front all day. And to go from running third, fifth, fourth, whatever it is, to 16th, I mean, it’s like being stabbed in the face, like right here underneath the eye, in the cheek. So I hate it for the fans and for our team.”
Daly was one of the first to utilize the high line at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway, demonstrating skill and determination despite the unfortunate result. Although Race 2 ended poorly, Daly secured a Top 10 finish in Race 1, the Synk 275, showing competitive spirit across the weekend.
How Daly Addresses Fans and Shares His True Feelings
Known for his candid approach, Conor Daly openly communicates his emotions following race weekends both on his podcast and through social media. He often engages directly with fans who follow his career closely.
After the Iowa setback, Daly spoke candidly about the emotional toll such weekends take, responding to fans questioning his reactions. On the podcast, he explained:
“A lot of people tweet at us, and a lot of fans are commenting. It’s super simple to look at and say, ‘Why did you do this, or why are you upset about this?’ And I’m like, ‘Because this is all that I do with my brain and my body. I train, we focus. This is really our work. We put our entire lives and existence into this. I live weekend by weekend because I don’t know what’s going to happen next weekend.'”
Upcoming Challenges and Past Experiences at Toronto
This season, Conor Daly has yet to claim a Top 5 finish with Juncos Hollinger Racing. The next chance for improvement arrives at the Toronto IndyCar weekend scheduled from July 18 to 20. Daly previously raced in Toronto in 2022 with Ed Carpenter Racing, bringing valuable experience to the upcoming event.
As the season progresses, Daly and his team will seek to overcome setbacks like the Iowa challenge and aim for stronger finishes, maintaining focus on the demanding IndyCar schedule.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Conor Daly diabetic?
A. At 33, Conor Daly treats racing like any other job. As an Indiana native, he’s been racing nearly since he first got his license. Additionally, Daly has been managing type 1 diabetes since he was 14. He’s also the first known professional race car driver with diabetes.