LONG BEACH, Calif. -- It was a whirlwind weekend for Conor Daly, but an hour after the checkered flag the 23-year-old from Noblesville, Ind., looked as if he could do it all again.
It had begun with Daly driving guests in an Indy Racing Experience two-seater on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn street circuit and ended with a 17th-place finish in the 41st Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
Starting 21st, Daly advanced the most positions in the 80-lap race among the 23 competitors. Daly was making his second Verizon IndyCar Series start.
"It was fun. It was cool. Obviously, 17th is not really great but from what we came from and where we started, I'm very happy," he said. "To be that competitive pace-wise, that is the best part to me. We were very quick compared to the other Honda's around us, so I just want to do this more often."
Daly received a call from Dale Coyne about an hour before the morning practice session April 18 to replace the injured Rocky Moran Jr. He borrowed a seat from Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti and -- helmet, gloves and driving shoes in hand -- headed for the transporter. Moran injured his left thumb in an accident during the second practice April 17.
“It’s a shame to see Rocky break his (thumb) like he did, but this is why I bring my stuff to the track every week and this is why I’m here and this is why I’m ready,” Daly said.
He participated in the 45-minute session and then the first round of knockout qualifications. A 30-minute session on race day completed his on-the-job training with the new Honda aerodynamic bodywork package.
Daly made his series debut for AJ Foyt Racing at the 2013 Indianapolis 500 and tested with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports last fall without the Honda road/street and short oval aero kit.
"I did all I could do," he said. "I went out and brought the car home and did all of the laps we could do, which was the goal in the first place. I am very happy for the opportunity and thankful for sure. I was hoping this would happen at some point to get a call to race on a road course and I did and it was on one of my favorite road courses."
Daly won the 2011 Indy Lights on the Long Beach circuit.