Conor Daly's IndyCar Future In Doubt after Release from Ed Carpenter Racing

• Conor Daly, a 10-year veteran of IndyCar, was released last week from Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR).

• Daly has been replaced in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing ride by 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 IndyCar series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.

• Hunter-Reay has been without a full-time ride since his contract with Andretti Autosport was not renewed following the 2021 season.

One familiar name will be missing from the starting grid for Sunday’s IndyCar race at Road America, namely Conor Daly, who was released last week from Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR).

The move wasn’t exactly surprising, as Daly has struggled not just this season, but for much of the 3 ½ seasons he’s driven for ECR. Other than an eighth-place finish in last month’s Indianapolis 500, his best finish after that was 14th in the 2023 season-opener at St. Petersburg, Fla. His overall best finish during his ECR tenure was fifth in last year’s Indianapolis Grand Prix and was sixth two weeks later in the Indy 500.

The has made 104 career starts with zero wins, just one podium and one pole. In addition to the past 3 ½ seasons for ECR – his last race with the team was last week at Detroit, where he finished 15th – he’s also raced for A.J. Foyt Racing, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Dale Coyne Racing, Harding Racing, Andretti Autosport and Trevor Carlin Racing. His best overall season finish has been 17th (twice, in 2020 and 2022)

Given that it’s rare a driver is released from a team mid-season, it’s uncertain whether the 31-year-old Daly’s IndyCar career potentially may be over.

Daly has been replaced in the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing ride by 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 IndyCar series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, who has been without a full-time ride since his contract with Andretti Autosport was not renewed following the 2021 season. Hunter-Reay begins his ECR tenure in this weekend’s race at Road America.

"This is the most difficult decision I have made as a team owner because I respect Conor and know what he means to IndyCar and its fans,” Carpenters said. “Our team has not been performing at the level we are capable of this year, and despite making technical changes and investments in the offseason, 2023 has been extremely challenging.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team.”

Hunter-Reay has competed in just one race since the end of the 2021 season: this year’s Indianapolis 500, which he finished 11th.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said when Carpenter reached out to him to offer him the job. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead.”

Now that he’s out of his IndyCar ride, don’t expect Daly to be sitting around playing video games as he awaits his next opportunity. While his IndyCar buddies will be racing at Road America this weekend, the 31-year-old Daly will drive in Round 1 of the 2023-24 Nitrocross season for Indianapolis-based Dreyer & Reinbold Racing JC this Friday and Saturday at MidAmerica Outdoors in Jay, Oklahoma.

“The chance to test my abilities in this intense, adrenaline-fueled series is something I've been anticipating,” Daly said. “I 'm grateful to the team for believing in me and providing this incredible opportunity. I can't wait to get behind the wheel and showcase what we can achieve together. I also want to thank Travis Pastrana and Nitrocross for all of their help and effort in getting this program together."

It's uncertain whether Daly will run more races for Dreyer & Reinbold JC this season in the 10-race Nitrocross schedule.

On July 8, Daly returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to compete in his third career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race there, with all three having been for Niece Motorsports.

Follow Autoweek contributor Jerry Bonkowski on Twitter @JerryBonkowski