Conor Daly reacted strongly to the late-race chaos during Race 2 of the IndyCar double-header at Iowa Speedway, where a sudden caution reshaped the competition and pushed him from a potential Top 5 finish to outside the Top 15. This unexpected development stemmed from Colton Herta’s crash near the race’s closing laps that triggered a caution period, upending the running order dramatically.
Daly, driving for Juncos Hollinger Racing, had started the race alongside pole-sitter Alex Palou on the front row, showing competitive pace and a legitimate shot at finishing near the front. However, because Daly and several other leading drivers, including race leader Josef Newgarden, made their final pit stops just before the caution flag waved, they were forced to restart farther back in the field, drastically affecting their chances for a strong result.
Conor Daly describes the painful impact of the late caution
On his Speed Street podcast, Daly candidly described the frustration and disappointment caused by the timing of the caution. He explained how it destroyed what had been a promising race, emphasizing the difficulty and effort involved in competing at this level.
“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 further detailed his emotional response to the situation, conveying how quickly his race went from strong to disappointing:
“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.”
Despite the setback in Race 2, Daly had demonstrated skill throughout the weekend, running high on the track and battling cleanly. He managed to secure a Top 10 finish in Race 1, the Synk 275, showcasing his competitive ability even if the second race ended in disappointment.
Daly addresses fans about his candid reactions to racing highs and lows
Known for his honest and open communication, Daly frequently shares his emotions on his podcast and interacts directly with fans on social media. After the Iowa race weekend disappointment, he responded to fans questioning why he expresses frustration after tough results, offering insight into the dedication and focus required in IndyCar racing.
“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.'”
With the current season underway, Daly has yet to achieve a Top 5 finish with Juncos Hollinger Racing. His next opportunity to climb the standings will come at the Toronto race weekend scheduled from July 18 to 20, marking his first start there since competing with Ed Carpenter Racing in 2022.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Conor Daly diabetic?
A. Conor Daly, 33, views racing as a typical workday. This professional race car driver from Indiana began racing shortly after getting his driver’s license. Since he was 14, Daly has managed type 1 diabetes. Remarkably, he is the only known professional race car driver with this condition.
