Conor Daly has landed one of the last NTT IndyCar Series seats for 2025 with Juncos Hollinger Racing. The Hoosier takes over from Romain Grosjean, moving across from the No. 78 JHR Chevy he drove late last season as the replacement for Agustin Canapino.
For Daly, his new deal with Ricardo Juncos and Brad Hollinger is the second relaunch of his IndyCar career. Having been full-time from 2016-2017 with Dale Coyne Racing, Daly took on part-time outings from 2018-2019, then went back to full-time from 2020-2022 with Carlin Racing and ECR prior to being cut by ECR after Detroit in June of 2023.
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Next, it was reverting back to part-time drives through 2024 and working hard in the background to secure the necessary funding to reclaim his full-time status in 2025 with JHR alongside Sting Ray Robb, who has claimed the team’s second entry.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the JHR team for the full NTT IndyCar Series season in 2025,” Daly said. “After the excitement and success we shared in 2024, including Milwaukee [ED: Where Daly finished third to secure JHR’s first-ever podium], it feels like the perfect next step. I’m grateful for Ricardo and Brad’s belief in me as I embark on the revitalization of my career. I look forward to pursuing podiums and wins with this incredible group. Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen – it’s been a team effort, and we’ll continue to build on this momentum together.”
If Daly’s determination was ever in doubt, his perseverance over the last year — when he privately questioned whether it was time to close the door on an IndyCar paddock that didn’t seem to believe he was deserving of another season-long chance — should give every free agent the inspiration to continue searching for new rides.
“Conor is an outstanding addition to our team,” Hollinger said. “He is a fantastic ambassador for the sport and has proven his speed not only in our car, but also through his tested tenure in the series. Providing him with more opportunities to collaborate closely with our engineers and crew will undoubtedly enhance the team’s performance, and empower his own unrelenting drive for success.”
In transitioning the team to offering both seats for hire, JHR team principal Dave O’Neill looks to the upcoming season as the first of many solidifying steps for the program.
“Our main priority this year is to build upon the success we’ve seen in the team’s short three-year campaign,” he said. “With Conor joining the team and Sting Ray already confirmed, we’re well-positioned to achieve that. This is just the beginning of a long-term process to build a stronger and more competitive foundation for the future.”
Daly’s signing means IndyCar now has 25 confirmed drivers in place for the coming season, with Coyne’s two cars as the lone entries that await confirmation.