He Was 30 Laps Away From Winning the Indy 500 | Conor Daly, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing

On today's show I welcomed IndyCar driver Conor Daly to the studio to discuss the month of May, preparing for the Indy 500, his most recent Indy 500 finish, his current racing situation, and the business realities of IndyCar.

Daly explains that despite having one of his best seasons that included beating his teammate and setting team points and finish records, he did not secure a full-time ride due to finances and late offseason changes. He also notes IndyCar's ratings growth driven largely by FOX's marketing and improved scheduling.

Daly, who will start 8th in the 110th Running of the Indy 500, breaks down Indy 500 preparation, sponsor appearances and partnerships with ARCO/AMPM and Kingspan, plus how pit stops, strategy, clean air, and small mistakes decide the race, referencing last year's wheel-weight issue that derailed his run after leading for 13 laps.

Daly also discusses the charter system expanding to 27 full-time cars next year, a new car coming in 2028, his Pardon My Take appearance, and why Indiana is home, sharing his favorite Indy 500 traditions and local restaurant recommendations.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:
- The Challenges of Being a Part-Time Driver
- The Ratings Growth of IndyCar, Charter System Expansion, and a New Car Coming in 2028
- Indy 500 Preparation and Strategy

Thank you to our partners:
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Check out these great clips from the show:
00:00 Lead Driver Mindset
01:19 Guest Introduction: Conor Daly, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
02:12 Burger Bet Banter
02:53 Life Without Full Time Seat
05:30 IndyCar Growth and FOX
09:15 Heroes and Villains
13:04 Why Palou Keeps Winning
15:01 Team Execution and Pit Crews
16:32 GP vs 500 Cars Explained
18:43 Month of May Schedule
20:50 Sponsors Kingspan and ARCO
22:09 Path Back to Full Time
22:55 IndyCar Charter System
28:26 500 Entries and Costs
33:55 Pageantry Helicopters Flyovers
36:20 New Car Era Coming
37:12 Next Gen IndyCar Chassis
37:58 Pit Stop Vibration Heartbreak
40:06 Clean Air Leading Feel
41:05 No Blame Just Execution
41:59 Last Pit Stop Strategy
44:06 May Testing And Qualifying
45:38 Underdogs And Winning Odds
49:44 What It Takes To Win
50:44 Pardon My Take Storytime
58:51 Indiana Traditions And Gems

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