Conor Daly has been confirmed to be driving the #59 Carlin Chevrolet for this weekend’s IndyCar race from World Wide Technology Raceway, commonly known as Gateway.
Daly competes for Ed Carpenter Racing when the series visits road and street courses, and for the Indy 500, but with the team owner getting behind the wheel when the series visits an oval, he typically steps over to Carlin for the weekend.
The confirmation of the arrangement will see Daly join the team to finish out the season’s non-Indy 500 oval races, of which there are only three, taking over Max Chilton’s seat as he chooses to continue his schedule of running road courses and Indy 500 only.
2017 was the last year the 29-year-old raced a full season with a single team, but he has never let on that he is bothered by having to jump between teams at various points throughout the year.
“[Gateway] is one of my favorite tracks,” said Daly. “I couldn’t tell you why. Ever since our very first test day with Foyt, where we were quickest.
“Love the way that track challenges us as drivers and challenges these cars. It will be fun. I’m just happy to be racing, honestly, which is nice.
“I’m not really sure what to expect. I think we as a team, we’re a little bit upset with how Texas went together because we were obviously quick there the year before, but things changed a lot with the tire, the surface and stuff like that.
“I know there was a test, but realistically there shouldn’t be many changes that we need to account for. I know we’re going to be strong.
“We didn’t get to test. I think we’ll just show up and probably try to beat all the rest of the guys.”
Even though Daly has driven the oval races for Carlin since 2019, and it was widely expected he would fill the role in Gateway as well, this weekend’s arrangement was not confirmed until just a few days before the event.
The Indiana-native has had some tough luck at the season’s other oval races at Texas Motor Speedway in June, finishing well down the order for both races of the double-header.
This weekend’s event from the 1.25-mile oval just outside St. Louis will take place over the course of just one day, with practice, qualifying, and the race all taking place on Saturday, August 21.
