Written by Archie O’Reilly
Conor Daly has been confirmed to replace the outgoing Agustin Canapino at Juncos Hollinger Racing for IndyCar’s upcoming visit to the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) oval and for the remainder of the 2024 season.
It was announced last week that the decision had been taken “mutually and amicably” that Capanino would vacate No.78 Chevy with immediate effect. The entry currently sits one place and five points outside the Leaders’ Circle, with its monetary benefit imperative for IndyCar’s lower-funded outfits.
Daly has been out of a full-time IndyCar ride since the seventh round of the 2023 season in Detroit, when he parted ways with Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) amid performance worries. But he is regarded as an oval specialist and, Juncos included, has now been turned to by four different teams to deputise on an oval since his ECR release.
The 32-year-old American won the 2010 Star Mazda championship (now USF Pro 2000) with Juncos, who now become the 11th different team that Daly will have competed with in IndyCar.
“I am extremely pleased to reunite with Ricardo Juncos after our success together in the Road To Indy,” said Daly, a 110-time IndyCar starter and one-time podium-sitter. “Ricardo took a chance on me when I was young and it made a huge difference in my career.
“There are a lot of people on this team that I’ve worked with before and I that gives me a lot of confidence. What Brad Hollinger and Ricardo have built here is extremely impressive in a short amount of time and I consider myself very lucky to get to compete for the rest of the season and earn the necessary points for this No.78 Chevrolet.
“There are a lot of partners in this effort and I appreciate the support behind me to get back in the race seat.”
Daly sat in for the injured Simon Pagenaud at Meyer Shank Racing for the Iowa Speedway doubleheader last year and recently ran the second 2024 Iowa race for Dale Coyne Racing amid physical issues for Jack Harvey. He also competed for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing at WWTR, better known as Gateway, in 2023 and finished a team-best 16th place.
Daly featured in the Indianapolis 500 for the Indy-only Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team this May, leading 22 laps en-route to a third successive top-10 finish at the Speedway.
“Having Conor Daly back in a JHR car after many years is like a flashback to some great memories, as we achieved a lot together,” team co-owner Ricardo Juncos said. Now it’s time to focus on what’s ahead and aim for strong results in the rest of the IndyCar season.”
Juncos have had a promising season on the No.77 Chevy’s side, with Romain Grosjean 16th in the standings after five top-10 results in his first year with the team. A fourth-place finish at Laguna Seca was a best-ever finish for a Juncos driver.
Canapino had recorded a best finish of 12th in Detroit but only twice finished inside the top 20 after the first two races of the season. After moving over to IndyCar as a multiple champion in his native touring car championship in Argentina, he finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings as an open-wheel rookie last year.
Canapino was unable to build on a solid first season and Juncos will hope that Daly - a driver much more familiar with ovals - can execute missing race results in the No.78 Chevy and elevate the entry into the 22 Leaders’ Circle places.
“Conor’s years of IndyCar experience will help the team grow and develop the car further,” co-owner Brad Hollinger added.
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