IndyCar News: Legge and Daly return this weekend at WWTR

Legge and Daly return to driving IndyCar this weekend at WWTR. Legge is returning behind the wheel of the No. 51 e.l.f. Cosmetics Honda powered entry and Conor Daly will join Juncos Hollinger Racing to drive its No. 78 Chevrolet for the five remaining races.

Legge will be joining teammate Jack Harvey who is driving the #18 INVST Dale Coyne Racing entry for the remainder of the season.

Legge has raced all the ovals so far this season aboard the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with RWR car. She made her first start of the season at the Indianapolis 500 and returned to take part in the Iowa Speedway doubleheader weekend in July. Legge had a strong weekend in Iowa placing 17th in Race 1.

“I’m excited to get back in the No. 51 e.l.f. Cosmetics Honda at World Wide Technology Raceway with Dale Coyne Racing. We had a good weekend in Iowa and I’m looking forward to building on that momentum and hopefully we can have another strong showing for the team.”

Legge currently sits as the ONLY FEMALE driver in any of the big three motorsports series (NTT INDYCAR SERIES, NASCAR Cup Series, Formula One).

“Katherine has done a good job for us this year on the ovals, and we’re happy to have her back this weekend in the 51 car to take on World Wide Technology Raceway. We’ve had success at that oval track in the past, so we look forward to seeing what Katherine and Jack (Harvey) will do this weekend,” said Team Owner Dale Coyne.

Daly to drive for Juncos Hollinger

Conor Daly will join Juncos Hollinger Racing to drive its No. 78 Chevrolet for the five remaining races of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, starting at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline this Saturday night, Aug. 17 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES veteran Daly, from Noblesville, Indiana, replaces Agustin Canapino, who was released by the team by mutual consent last week during his second season in the series. This partnership marks a reunion with JHR and team co-owner Ricardo Juncos for Daly, who won the 2010 Star Mazda Championship with Juncos Racing in 2010 with seven wins in 13 races.

“I am extremely pleased to reunite with Ricardo Juncos after our success together in the Road To Indy,” Daly said. “Ricardo took a chance on me when I was young, and it made a huge difference in my career. There are a lot of people on this team that I’ve worked with before, and that gives me a lot of confidence.

“What (co-owner) Brad Hollinger and Ricardo have built here is extremely impressive in a short amount of time, and I consider myself very lucky to get to compete for the rest of the season and earn the necessary points for this No. 78 Chevrolet. There are a lot of partners in this effort, and I appreciate the support behind me to get back in the race seat.”

This will be the third team for which the well-traveled Daly has raced this season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He finished 10th after starting 29th in the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports and replaced the injured Jack Harvey in the second race of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend in July for Dale Coyne Racing.

Daly, 32, has made 110 INDYCAR SERIES starts for 10 teams since his debut in 2013. His best finish is second in 2016 at Detroit (Belle Isle), and he has one career pole, in 2020 at Iowa Speedway.

“Having Conor Daly back in a JHR car after many years is like a flashback to some great memories, as we achieved a lot together,” Juncos said. “Now it’s time to focus on what’s ahead and aim for strong results in the rest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.”

Daly will join Formula One veteran Romain Grosjean in JHR’s driver lineup for the rest of the season. Daly and Grosjean were a solid fourth and fifth, respectively, on the speed charts during a nine-car private test Aug. 1 at WWTR.

“Conor’s years of INDYCAR experience will help the team grow and develop the car further,” team co-owner Brad Hollinger said.