As the son of a race car driver, Conor Daly spent most of his life watching the Indianapolis 500 from the grandstands. This year, the 21-year-old rising star will be seeing the race from the cockpit of an Indy car.
Daly has been hired to drive A.J. Foyt’s No. 41 ABC Supply Honda in the 2013 Indianapolis 500, joining Takuma Sato who pilots the No. 14 ABC Supply Honda in the IZOD IndyCar Series. Daly, who grew up in Noblesville, will be making his formal IndyCar debut in the 500 on May 26 although he did test the ABC Supply Indy car in December.
“I almost can’t describe what it means to have the opportunity to race in the Indianapolis 500,” Daly said. “I am so thankful that A.J. and (team director) Larry (Foyt) have given me my first shot at the greatest race in the world. I know this will sound cheesy, but I’ve never been happier in my life; this race means so much to me.”
Daly tested with the team in mid-December at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Fla. He competed the past two seasons in the European-based GP3 series, and has won in every formula he’s competed – Firestone Indy Lights, GP3, Star Mazda and Skip Barber. Daly has won national titles in the Star Mazda and Skip Barber series. Daly participated in the Rookie Orientation Program on last Thursday along with three other rookies: Tristan Vautier, Carlos Munoz and A.J. Allmendinger.
“I’m excited about bringing Conor to Indy for his first race at the 500,” Larry Foyt said. “I’ve been watching him come up through the open wheel ranks, and when we met at the F-1 race in Austin, Texas, last year, we hit it off immediately. Doing the test at Sebring confirmed he could make the step up to an Indycar, and with my dad’s guidance, the potential is there for a great month of May.”
Opening Day of the Indy 500 is May 11, Pole Day is May 18, and Race Day is May 26.