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

Conor Daly has began 115 IndyCar races with ten completely different groups during the last 12 years, plus put in seat time throughout NASCAR, GP3, and a stint as an F1 check 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 yr. 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 lately, he had lots to say. He is laser-focused on competing for podiums — and possibly even an enormous 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 outdoors U.S. borders, the sequence’ 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 wish to win that race greater than the rest on the earth” — ought to offer you 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 the intention to hit the bottom operating in 2025?

Preparation is so vital on this sport, and we are able to undergo weeks of all the pieces that we wish to accomplish and the way we make the vehicles even higher. It eliminates among the questions that you’d have in your thoughts earlier than going into a brand new atmosphere, as a result of I used to be already there. I already know the system a bit bit.

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

Having essentially the most expertise is useful. There needs to be somebody to steer us in a sure route. I have been in groups earlier than the place my teammate has been the extra skilled driver. I feel it is nearly belief — they should belief what I am saying, and I’ve to belief that they are going to have the ability to ship what I would like out of the automotive.

The identical factor for Sting Ray, clearly, as properly. I am positive he’ll need one thing a bit bit completely different than me, however hopefully our total efforts make the vehicles simply quicker each weekend. It is essentially the most aggressive time in IndyCar proper now. The whole lot needs to be excellent daily if you wish to obtain the very best outcomes. 

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

We’ve got a terrific workshop, and now we have a terrific group of individuals. Lots of younger of us, which is sweet. There’s nonetheless a protracted technique to go. There are groups that also have triple the price range that now we have, extra vehicles and extra information for years.

One factor that we undoubtedly are restricted on is information and a large number 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 quite a lot of good folks on this group. 

Daly taking third in Milwaukee in 2024

Picture by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Photographs

After all, successful is the final word aim — however have you ever set any particular targets that you just wish to obtain with Juncos? Final yr, the rostrum in Milwaukee was enormous for the group. However throughout the entire season, is there a particular aim to realize?

I wish to win the Indy 500. I do not assume there’s any motive why we should not try this. Their vehicles have been quick final yr, after which I obtained in on the finish of the season, in October, to do a check day with these guys. I feel they have not truly had drivers with quite a lot of oval expertise of their vehicles earlier than. So there was lots that I instantly was in a position to decide up on that I did not like, and stuff that I feel might be good. As a result of I’ve pushed quite a lot of oval races, and I do know what I would like 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 wish to win that race greater than the rest on the earth. I wish to win that race greater than the rest on the earth.

However for me, my aim is to show lots of people fallacious on the street and road programs. That is the place I obtained my first podium in IndyCar, and I feel folks forgot that. I actually wish to do properly there and begin off robust within the season. The Indy Street Course is a spot that I actually wish to win — that I really feel like I have been very near earlier than, however I’ve had quite a lot of stuff occur to me there.

After which this yr, I wish to have my finest factors yr of all time. We wish to be constant each weekend. We do not wish to have any DNFs. We do not wish to have any foolish errors. Simply wish to rating factors on a regular basis, maintain ourselves up entrance, and simply be constant. It is going to be exhausting to struggle the highest groups, for positive, however I feel now we have a possibility to do it if we execute on all completely 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 is very exhausting. Final yr I used to be with the Dreyer & Reinbold group, and so they solely do one race a yr, 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 form of early on within the race.

The whole lot simply needs to be proper. You do all of the work throughout Could: each single observe session, each change that you just make by the point it will get to Carb Day and race weekend, it is your job together with your engineer to only put all the suitable puzzle items collectively. I’ve sufficient confidence there to get to the entrance regardless of the place I begin. We have performed it earlier than. It is a lengthy day. It’s a must to have a bit little bit of luck in your aspect, for positive. However there isn’t any motive why we should not be capable to compete if we do all these issues. It is rather troublesome, 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 outdoors the highest 4 has been in a position to win a race, which was Lundgard with Rahal in Toronto ’23. Why do you assume that — in a sequence which is meant to be stage in lots of areas — it’s so troublesome for smaller groups to step up?

Nicely, there nonetheless are open areas of growth, proper? You might have the damper applications, which groups can spend $100 million a yr if they need it on, as a result of it is an open space of growth, proper? In System 1, all the pieces’s open for growth. However with us, there nonetheless is a profit to having a big group of engineers [and] a considerable amount of technical growth price range. And there is a motive 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 more durable 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’ll see some smaller groups possibly get a win right here and there — Dale Coyne Racing, different operations. However the enterprise has grow to be 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 which may not have as a lot price range.

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

Despite the fact that you assume you’ve got discovered all the pieces, there’s all the time extra yow will discover in these vehicles, and the dampers and the way in which the tires work — , the vehicles are completely different now with the hybrid. So, how do you determine the very best setup for that scenario? It is form of a story as previous as time… the individuals who have essentially the most sources, and the largest operations, and the neatest individuals who keep collectively, and the very best drivers, normally do fairly properly.”

However do you assume that possibly having some form of price cap might assist to stage issues between groups? One thing like what F1 did?

I do not assume so. Our budgets are nonetheless means lower than a System 1 price range.

There is no technique to make motor racing simply truthful for everybody. You realize what I imply? Since you’re all the time making an attempt to be the very best. 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 lots, and it is the identical in System 1. And although we nonetheless have a few of that in IndyCar, it is a lot tighter. I do not assume you may ever be capable to actually make it simply even for everybody, as a result of then you definately’re not on the peak of engineering, you are not counting on actually good folks and taking probabilities technically.

I do not assume a price range 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 check 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 bear in mind Ricardo from even the go-karting days, earlier than he even began a automotive racing group, and it has been spectacular. He all the time stated that he wished to get to the highest stage of motorsport as a group proprietor. I assumed that after we gained our championship, he was the group to be with, for positive. And I all the time simply adopted alongside.

We’re very shut due to that point we spent collectively in 2010. That was a yr the place all of us actually labored exhausting. We slept within the trailer collectively as a result of we weren’t doing large issues with large cash — we have been simply making an attempt to win races. We have been simply making an attempt to point out up each weekend, and we did it. So it is spectacular to see what he is performed. And it is form of loopy, for positive, to assume that right here I’m driving for his IndyCar group. It is humorous how life works.

IndyCar turned fairly fashionable in Argentina with Agustin Canapino. Then folks obtained disillusioned when he left. However Juncos continues to be an Argentinian group at its roots. Do you are feeling assist from Argentinian followers? 

Actually, there’s quite a lot of ardour from the Argentinian fan base, it doesn’t matter what it’s — whether or not it is System 1, IndyCar, soccer, any sport, proper? You’ll be able to undoubtedly see it. And I feel I have been on each ends, of assist after which quite a lot of not assist, which has been powerful. Racing is a ruthless enterprise. I obtained to know Augustín. Very good man. Some folks nonetheless are in search of him to return again. I feel he additionally most likely desires to be in a spot the place he desires to be, too. Being profitable in Argentina, I feel, is superior for him. I nonetheless comply with him on the web, so I see all the pieces that he is doing.

The assist from Argentina has been nice. And, , you’ll be able to like me or not. I do not actually thoughts, as a result of that is what I like about sport. You’ll be able to have your folks that you just assist.

However I do know Ricardo [Juncos] very properly, and I do know that he’s a terrific 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 form 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 the direction of 2026 with Pato O’Ward, after all. What do you concentrate on IndyCar increasing outdoors the U.S.?

Yeah, I feel that for positive we’d be capable 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 have been there. If that many individuals have been there for an indication, 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 accurately. 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 deal with. And, , in America this yr with Fox, will probably be useful, I hope.

However I do not know after we will get to try this. The game has to develop total. If the game grows and individuals are prepared to pay for IndyCar to be there and it is a money-making alternative for everybody, then I feel it’s going to work. Hopefully we are able to do it. I feel it could be a terrific thought.

Moreover your job as a full-time IndyCar driver, you additionally run your individual podcast, Pace Road. What motivates you to do it? Might it lead you to do some broadcasting work once you cease racing?

I undoubtedly wish to be in TV broadcasting, if I can do it. I 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 possibility to develop my very own model. It is a possibility to speak to extra folks.

I feel in the event you’re studying one thing from all of the folks that you just interview, that may solely assist your individual thoughts — and possibly 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 should 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 provide folks one thing that they could wish to hearken to, and hopefully inform a buddy, like, “Hey, IndyCar is cool — you bought to observe it.” And that is what we want, extra of that.

Are you wanting to attempt NASCAR once more?

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

However I am centered 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 motive, IndyCar does not work out after a pair years, or after nonetheless lengthy, I might love to provide the NASCAR stuff a shot, for a season at the very least.