Conor Daly, driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing, recently addressed the clash that unfolded between Kyle Kirkwood and Rinus VeeKay during the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca on June 27. Daly shared his thoughts on how the situation, featuring the Indiana native and other key racers, provided intense competition that he believes benefits IndyCar racing.
Kyle Kirkwood, who drives the #27 Andretti Global Honda-powered car, collided with Dale Coyne Racing’s Rinus VeeKay at turn 2, forcing VeeKay off the track into the runoff zone. Following the incident, VeeKay called out Kirkwood on social media, prompting a direct response from Kirkwood, highlighting the tension between the two competitors.
How the feud adds excitement according to Daly’s podcast commentary
On the SpeedStreet podcast hosted with Chase Holden, Daly explained why he welcomes the fiery exchanges and rivalries that develop within IndyCar. He expressed enthusiasm for the outspoken interactions that accompany on-track incidents, stating,
“I liked it personally. I thought there was some beef. I love seeing little fiery tweets back and forth. I think it’s great for the sport. I don’t know if you don’t think it is I guess we have different thoughts about it.”
Kirkwood was penalized with a stop-and-go penalty for causing the collision, ultimately finishing the race in 16th place. This setback effectively ended his challenge for this year’s drivers‘ championship.
Kirkwood’s impressive yet challenging rookie season in IndyCar
Kyle Kirkwood began his racing career with notable success in lower divisions, consistently leading early races. Transitioning to the IndyCar Series with the A.J. Foyt team, he encountered tougher competition, often battling in the midfield rather than at the front. Kirkwood openly discussed this adjustment during an interview with Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, revealing the difficulty of adapting to the new level of competition:
“I was used to being in the front a lot. I never got the opportunity to race people for fifth or sixth or seventh or eighth or anything like that because a lot of the races, I was just at the front. And that’s not me trying to be cocky. That is just the honest truth. And for me, coming into the series, especially when I was at Foyt and all of a sudden you’re racing for 18th and a top 20 would be a pretty good day. That’s impossible to accept,” said Kirkwood.
Despite the challenges, Kirkwood has showcased strong performances this season, including securing pole position and winning the 50th anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13. He also qualified sixth and finished sixth at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race. Currently, Kirkwood holds fourth place in the drivers‘ championship standings with 377 points.
Impact of the Laguna Seca incident on the championship and sport
The collision and subsequent penalty at Laguna Seca have significant implications for Kirkwood, ending his chance to contend for the championship this season. However, the incident has injected a renewed sense of intensity and drama into the IndyCar series, which drivers like Conor Daly see as beneficial for maintaining fan interest and competitive spirit. The Kirkwood Laguna Seca feud exemplifies the kind of energetic rivalry that can elevate the sport’s profile and excitement in upcoming races.
