Yahoo Autos UPDATED: Daly and Ed Carpenter Racing part ways
Conor Daly has split from Ed Carpenter Racing.
Daly’s final race in the No. 20 Chevy was last weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix and a new, yet-to-be-named driver will join ECR’s Rinus VeeKay at Road America later in the month.
“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,” said team owner Ed Carpenter.
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“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. I have put a great deal of consideration into the current state of our team and realize it is my obligation to our employees, partners, and supporters to do whatever is necessary to elevate our team’s competitiveness. We sincerely wish Conor continued success and will cheer him on wherever he goes next.”
Having started his IndyCar career in 2013, Daly joined ECR on a part-time basis in 2020 and was elevated to a full-time role with sponsor BitNile in 2022, when he placed 17th in the championship with a best finish of fifth at the May edition of the Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Presently 20th in the drivers’ standings, the Indiana native’s top result in 2023 was delivered with an eighth at the recent Indianapolis 500.
“Although we’ve mutually decided that it’s in our best interests to take different paths, I’d like to thank ECR for the past three and a half seasons,” said Daly. “I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me – past, present and into the future. I look forward to taking on the next opportunities that await, and I want to thank the fans for being with me on this ride.”
According to the team, the No. 20 Chevrolet will continue as a full-time entry. The full-time program for the No. 21 and the ovals-only program for the No. 33 are also unaffected.
This story has been updated since it was first published to include quotes from Ed Carpenter and Conor Daly.
