Conor Daly publicly condemned Ed Carpenter Racing following a frightening crash during the IndyCar Portland Grand Prix last weekend, highlighting ongoing tensions between him and his former team. Daly, who competed for ECR between 2020 and 2023, voiced his anger after a collision involving ECR driver Christian Rasmussen led to a high-speed accident.
Background on Daly’s tenure and split with Ed Carpenter Racing
Conor Daly initially joined Ed Carpenter Racing in a part-time capacity during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before securing a full-time ride for the 2022 campaign after bringing on BitNile as a sponsor. Despite this opportunity, Daly’s performance included only two Top 10 finishes, while teammate Rinus Veekay consistently recorded stronger results. In 2023, after just seven races, Daly and ECR parted ways with statements suggesting that the decision was mutual and amicable.
Details of the Portland GP incident escalate conflict
The rivalry flared anew at the Portland GP, where Daly and Christian Rasmussen vied for position early in the 110-lap race. On lap 13, Rasmussen forced Daly off the track, provoking Daly’s frustration. Two laps later, during another overtaking attempt, contact between the two drivers sent Daly’s car crashing into the barriers at speeds exceeding 150 mph. Daly, driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing, later harshly criticized Rasmussen’s aggressive moves.
Daly’s scathing remarks on Ed Carpenter Racing’s management
Speaking on his Speed Street podcast after the crash, Daly directed his frustration toward the upper management of his former team, Ed Carpenter Racing. He suggested that they showed blatant disregard for his safety and wellbeing:
“Honestly, this is going to sound really bad, but the upper management of that team, ECR, they probably were hoping that I would have been rolled out of that accident in a coffin. They definitely have no respect for me or my life or whatever.” —Conor Daly, IndyCar driver
“Love the mechanics and all those guys on that team, my engineer Pete there is awesome. But the upper management there, I guarantee there’s like a hit on me. That’s a shame.” —Conor Daly, IndyCar driver
Controversy over team radio remarks following the crash
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, broadcasted team radio from Christian Rasmussen’s crew included comments that appeared dismissive of Daly’s incident and critical of his driving. One notable remark was:
“He’s just ramming into me now. He ran out of talent there. Watch the bottom here. I don’t know what he expected me to do there.” —Unknown ECR crew member
Daly later clarified on his podcast that these words were from a crew member, not Rasmussen himself, and revealed that this person was a close friend who privately apologized for the comment:
“I actually know who said it, and I won’t say his name because he came up to me at the airport and he apologized. He’s a very close friend of mine, and I was very disappointed with what he said.” —Conor Daly, IndyCar driver
IndyCar reaction and aftermath of the incident
Despite the severity of the collision and Daly’s accusations, IndyCar officials chose not to penalize Christian Rasmussen, a decision that left FOX commentators questioning the ruling. Following the race, Rasmussen maintained he was justified in his defensive driving and that Daly’s move in the fast Turn 10 was ill-advised. The ongoing dispute underscores increased tension between Daly and his former team, compounded by the physical and emotional toll of the crash at Portland International Raceway.
This conflict between Conor Daly and Ed Carpenter Racing amplifies scrutiny on safety and conduct within IndyCar competition, and it remains to be seen whether this incident will prompt formal responses or changes in team–driver dynamics moving forward.
