Conor Daly

Conor Daly is an American racing driver who currently competes in the IndyCar Series. He made an IndyCar debut in 2013 but his first full season was 2016.

Earlier in a career, he made a way through the open-wheel racing ladder, participating in the GP2 Series, GP3 Series, MRF Challenge F2000, Indy Lights Series and Star Mazda Championship. He was a champion two times, in the 2010 Star Mazda Championship and 2012/2013 MRF Challenge Formula 2000.

Conor Daly

Racing genes in Conor's veins

Born in December 1991 in Noblesville, Indiana, Conor Daly started his racing career at the age 10 in karting competitions. He has racing genes in his veins as his father is former F1 and Champ Car driver Derek Daly.

Conor made his greatest karting success in 2006 by winning the World Karting Association Grand Nationals. After that, he progressed to car racing in 2007. His first full-time competitions were the Skip Barber National Championship and the Formula Ford in 2008.

Star Mazda Championship winner in 2010

In 2009, Daly moved to the Star Mazda Championship. Driving the #22 car for Andersen Racing he scored one victory at New Jersey to finish third in the final points, behind Adam Christodoulou and Peter Dempsey.

Conor joined Juncos Racing for the 2010 Star Mazda Championship and became the champion after scoring seven wins and twelve podiums in thirteen rounds. He also set a series record of nine poles.

2011 – double programme in the GP3 and Indy Lights

The next step in Conor's career was the 2011 GP3 Series with Carlin Motorsport. He spent the full season with the team, driving the #14 car. His best result was fifth place at Spa and he finished 17th in the points.

In 2011, Daly also participated in five races of the Indy Lights series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. He was second at St. Petersburg and won a race at Long Beach.

Celebrating GP3 victory in Valencia

Third place in the 2013 GP3 Series

In 2012, Daly joined Lotus GP team in the GP3 Series, scoring his maiden win in the season-opening round at Circuit de Catalunya. Later in the season, Daly added four more podiums to his account, finishing sixth in the points.

In 2013, he moved to ART Grand Prix team. He was a race winner once, in the Feature race at the Valencia Street Circuit, and five more times on a podium. In the final standings, he finished third, behind Daniil Kvyat and Facu Regalia.

MRF Challenge Formula 2000 champion

Between seasons 2012 and 2013, from October 2012 to February 2013, Daly participated in the India-based MRF Challenge Formula 2000.

In nine races at Buddh International Circuit and Madras Motor Racing Track, Daly was a race winner four times and he won his second championship title in a career, beating Jordan King by just five points.

Conor with engineers ahead of his IndyCar debut in 2013

Indianapolis 500 debut in May 2013

While racing in the GP3 Series in 2013, Conor Daly made an IndyCar Series debut in May 2013, driving the #41 Honda for AJ Foyt Enterprises at Indianapolis 500. He crashed during a practice ten days before the race and later qualified in the 31st place. He ended a race in 22nd place, two laps behind winner Tony Kanaan.

In 2013, Daly also had a one-off appearance in the Indy Lights series, driving for Team Moore Racing at Houston, where he finished third.

Conor Daly early in a career

Two season in the GP2 Series

In 2014, Daly stepped into GP2 Series as a full-time driver for Venezuela GP Lazarus team. He made GP2 debut a year earlier, in the first round of the 2013 season, driving for Hilmer Motorsport in the season-opener at Sepang International Circuit.

Driving the #25 car for Venezuela GP Lazarus in the 2014 GP2 Series season, Daly reached points just once, after finishing seventh at Hungaroring. He was replaced in two rounds by Sergio Campana, returning to season's finale in Abu Dhabi.

In 2014, Daly also made a debut in the sports car racing. He joined RSR Racing at Daytona 24 Hours, driving an Oreca FLM 09 in the Prototype Challenge class. He was sharing a car with Chris Cumming, Alex Tagliani and Rusty Mitchell, finishing in the 8th place.

Conor Daly in 2014

Six starts in the 2015 IMSA SportsCar Championship

In 2015, Daly's career had two directions – he recorded five starts in the IndyCar Series and six starts in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

In the IMSA Championship, Daly was a member of the #38 Performance Tech Motorsports crew in the PC class, sharing a car with James French and Jerome Mee. After finishing third at Sebring 12 Hours, he scored two more podiums later in the season, at Elkhart Lake and Austin.

Retiring at 2015 Indianapolis before the green flag

In the 2015 IndyCar Series, Daly had the first start at the Long Beach Grand Prix with Dale Coyne Racing. Driving the #18 Honda, he finished 17th.

At Indianapolis 500, Daly was driving the #43 Honda for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire before the green flag due to a mechanical failure.

Later in the season, Daly replaced injured SPM's James Hinchcliffe in two rounds (three races), driving the #5 Honda at Detroit and Toronto. His best result was sixth place in the second race at Detroit.

Cono Daly (left) on a podium next to Sebastien Bourdais and Juan Pablo Montoya

2016 – first full season in the IndyCar Series

For the 2016 IndyCar Series, Daly finally secured a seat for the entire season. He was driving the #18 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing. At Indianapolis 500, he was forced to retire after being collected by Mikhail Aleshin's car on lap 115.

In June, Daly reached his maiden IndyCar podium after finishing second in the first race at Detroit Belle Isle Park. Until the end of the season, he recorded one top 5 result (4th at Watkins Glen) to finish 18th in the final standings.

Conor Daly was driving for AJ Foyt in 2013 and then again in 2017

Joining AJ Foyt Racing in 2017

In 2017, Daly started a season at Daytona 24 Hours, driving the #88 Oreca FLM 09 for Starworks Motorsport and finishing fourth in the Prototype Challenge class.

For the 2017 IndyCar season, Daly signed with AJ Foyt Enterprises to drive the #4 Honda. He again had no luck at Indianapolis 500, crashing out on lap 67. Later in the season, Daly's best result was the fifth place at Watkins Glen and he finished 18th in the final points.

Conor Daly with fans in 2019

Three different teams in 2019, joining ECR for 2020

Daly had no full-time seat both in 2018 and 2019, but races occasionally. In 2018, he came to Indianapolis 500 with Dale Coyne Racing/Thom Burns Racing and then participated in three races with Harding Racing.

In 2019, he competed with three different teams over the season. He recorded two starts with Andretti Autosport, four starts with Carlin and one start with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. His best result was sixth place at Gateway with Carlin.

For the 2020 IndyCar season, he joins Ed Carpenter Racing to share a car with team owner Ed Carpenter.

Photos: Conor Daly,