Daly puts best foot forward in audition for Verizon IndyCar Series
Conor Daly, son of legendary Irish racer Derek Daly, wore his “lucky” shoes and a fresh firesuit, and patted the nose of the stark white No. 7 Dallara chassis bearing his name on either side of the cockpit “for luck.”
But luck is really the confluence of preparation and opportunity as Daly auditioned for a 2015 ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at Sebring International Raceway alongside regular driver James Hinchcliffe.
“I’ve never prepared more for a day in my life,” said Daly, who made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race with A.J. Foyt Racing. “It is the dream and the goal to be competing full time in IndyCar. This is a great first start with this opportunity to test.”
Daly, 23, of Noblesville, Ind., matched Hinchcliffe’s lap time in the morning session on the 1.65-mile short course and provided the feedback engineers seek with two cars on track.
“It’s been two years since I’ve been in a car on a road course, but to be right on pace with Hinch for me personally is great,” he said. “It’s just so nice to be back in a car and working with these guys is so cool.”
Hinchcliffe gave his thoughts on Daly’s performance on IndyCar.com.
