Daly fast, but will he have to buy his IndyCar ride?

With the ride-buying cancer destroying the sport, Conor Daly wonders if speed or a big checkbook means more in IndyCar.

For the first time in over two years, Conor Daly was back in an IndyCar on a road course yesterday in Sebring, Florida. He joined James Hinchcliffe in the Schmidt Peterson Honda powered Dallara's for their opening test of the season. "I was here today to support Hinch's test program and to provide Schmidt Peterson with whatever feedback I could to help position them for success this season," commented Daly, just before he stepped into the number 7 car wearing his trademark green shoes.

After spending the last four years in Europe competing in GP3 and GP2, Daly is now focused on the Verizon IndyCar Series. "I absolutely loved being back in an IndyCar but I was livid in the cockpit when I accidentally hit the pit speed limiter on my fast lap," said a frustrated Daly. "Hinch laughed at me, but I was still annoyed."

Would the great Mario Andretti have ever been an IndyCar driver if he had to buy his ride? Nope.

Daly's European tour took him to the victory podium twice prompting Formula One's Sahara Force India to use him as their data mapping test driver. Force India also chose Daly to develop their engine mapping software using the McLaren Formula One simulator.

"My time in Europe was invaluable and I now feel more prepared for a racing season than ever before," said Daly, who ironically does not have an agreement to race anything this year. "I will continue to gather experience and when the opportunity comes to strut my stuff in a race, I'll be ready."

Daly raced in the 2013 Indy 500 for AJ Foyt Racing.