“I'm either in or so dead”: Conor Daly addresses IndyCar opportunity with JHR

Conor Daly raced with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing for the 2024 IndyCar season in a one-off Indy 500 entry with the team. However, with DRR confirming Ryan Hunter-Reay and Jack Harvey as the 2025 drivers, Daly is left as a free agent without a seat for the upcoming season. With only a few seats available for a 2025 drive, Daly detailed his off-season struggles.

Color Daly said, (via IndyStar)

“One of the most difficult offseasons I've ever gone through, and I've been through a lot. Last year, I pretty much knew all I'd have was the 500 (with Dreyer and Reinbold Racing). This one, I literally feel like I'm either in or so dead. I'll have no forms of income, and I have no idea what's going on, and it's just frustrating.”

One seat at Juncos Hollinger Racing and two at Dale Coyne Racing are the only ones yet to be filled for the 2025 season. JHR replaced Agustin Canapino with Daly for the final five races of the 2024 season as they risked losing their place in the Leader’s Circle. Daly's podium finish in Milwaukee ensured the team's entry into the Leader's Circle.

AUTO: AUG 27 INDYCAR Bommarito Automotive Group 500 - Source: Getty

Given the American's form for Juncos Hollinger Racing in 2024, the team is rumored to have shortlisted him as an option. Romain Grosjean, Rinus VeeKay, and Linus Lundqvist are also rumored to be on the shortlist. Reportedly, what's holding Conor Daly back is his sponsorship. The 32-year-old received $2.1 million from his sponsor Polkadot, a blockchain technology community, which helped him race in the Indy 500, NASCAR, and the final five IndyCar series races.

Conor Daly reportedly asked for a $7.5 million sponsorship from Polkadot but the appeal was rejected. A new proposal for a $3 million sponsorship has been reported. IndyStar suggests that this fund will cover “Indy 500, St. Pete, Thermal, Road America and the Iowa doubleheader”. The American driver will have to arrange the sponsorship for other races elsewhere.

---

“Not in my control” - Conor Daly details the sponsorship struggles affecting the 2025 seat

The economics of IndyCar mean that the cost of running a single entry is in the $ 6 million-$8 million range. With the sponsorship deals for the team coming at a premium, the drivers are expected to bring in a sponsor and the money to sustain for a season. This scenario is what Conor Daly has been struggling with.

AUTO: MAY 21 IndyCar - The 106th Indianapolis 500 Qualifying - Source: Getty

Daly said (via IndyStar),

“My job is to be a racecar driver, and I can't focus on being a racecar driver currently. There are people who are employed to sell sponsorship, and no one's able to, and it seems like the driver is the one everyone's reliant on. The last few weeks and months have been excruciatingly annoying, to where I should be happy to be working on something like this.

“But I can't sleep. It's just, my entire existence is in other people's control. It's not in my control, and all I can do is present folks a reason to get behind me and say, 'Hey, we're going to go compete.' We did it in a month's time last year, and we'd like to have a full season's worth of time to compete (this year).”

JHR secured Sting Ray Robb for the 2025 season, and the 23-year-old has reportedly brought in the biggest sponsorship from the free agent market. The team has also signed former Williams F1 engineer David Brown as their technical director. The second driver seat at JHR is the only part of the puzzle left to be put into place for the 2025 season.