Conor Daly eyes full-time IndyCar ride (2nd Update)
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| Reader feels an American from Indiana like Conor Daly would be a hit with fans as compared to another foreigner |
A reader writes, Dear AR1: I've been a subscriber for many years, but never written in. I'm mainly a fan, and certainly don't boast any fancy credentials that give me the wherewithal to question Mike Hull and Chip Ganassi. They've won 5championships in six years, multiple Indy 500 wins, sports car excellence, a Daytona 500 winners, and the list goes on. I'm basically an average guy with an 9-5 job, a beer belly, an average house, a wife and two kids.
So, can someone at AR1 explain to me why Mike and Chip aren't considering Conor Daly as Dario Franchitti's replacement? I'd understand if Chip got an F1 guy like Sergio Perez or Paul di Resta. I'd also get it if someone like Ryan Hunter-Reay or Will Power were available. But young Daly can't get a look while Hull and Ganassi want to bring in Ryan Briscoe or Alex Tagliani? Really?
I apologize in advance if there is something I am missing. But I don't get that.
Nothing against Briscoe and Tag, they're cool dudes and good racers. But Briscoe got his lunch handed to him by Power for three years at Penske. Tags is a passionate guy but he hasn't been on the podium since Champ Car. Sorry, but if you look at Daly's record in GP3 he's arguably as good as both those guys right now. And there's no doubt he has the potential to be better than both.
Also, as Brian Carroccio's article pointed out so well, young Daly is the perfect fit for IndyCar. He's well-spoken, a Hoosier native, and has been trained in the cutthroat European junior formulae.
I don't know fellas. Am I the only one thinking this? Is there something I'm missing?
Any explanation would be welcome. Jim Callahan, Ijamsville, MD
12/06/13 As a quick add-on to the news Conor Daly is pursuing an IndyCar ride, recall this past October's article from AutoRacing1.com columnist Brian Carroccio about young Daly where we broached this very topic.
12/06/13
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| Conor Daly |
Three years of training on Europe's open-wheel ladder has left Indiana's Conor Daly feeling confident he's ready to tackle a full season of IndyCar racing. As he told RACER on Friday, all Daly needs is for a door to open in the IndyCar Series, and he'll show what a difference time spent on Formula 1's ladder system has made in preparing him for the big time.
“The years I spent in Europe did really amazing things for me as a young American learning from some of the best teachers in the business and racing against some really tough competition," said Daly, who won the 2010 Pro Mazda title before continuing his education in the GP3 series from 2011-'13.
“The time I spent in GP3 with Carlin [Motorsport], Lotus [GP], ART [Grand Prix] – it helped me develop to the highest level, and with the other racing I've done in India and even the two races I did in GP2, I really believe it helped prepare me for IndyCar racing a lot more than if I'd stayed here and just raced in Indy Lights. Everyone talks about how much of a difference that European open-wheel experience does for young drivers, and it's true. I benefited from it the whole time I was there." More at Racer.com