#NEVERGIVEUP that accompanied his tweets “makes sense now,” Conor Daly says.
Daly, who has competed in six Verizon IndyCar Series races with three different teams since 2013, has pursued a full-time ride “for years.”
Persistence and the race craft displayed in spot opportunities this past season have been rewarded, Verizon IndyCar Series team owner Dale Coyne announced at the INDYCAR stage at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis.
Daly, who turns 24 on Dec. 15, will drive the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in all 16 events in 2016.
Coyne also announced that four-time USAC champion Bryan Clauson will drive a Dale Coyne Racing-prepared Honda in association with Jonathan Byrd’s Racing in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in May. Both Daly's car and Clauson's Indy 500 entry will be backed Jonathan Byrd’s Hospitality & Restaurant Group and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Daly's car will carry different sponsorship at Indianapolis.
“It’s an amazing thing to think that I actually get to prepare for races before the weekend,” said Daly, who won the 2010 Star Mazda championship and was a race winner in the 2011 Indy Lights season. “I haven’t actually competed in a full season of racing since 2013. There was a really scary time in my career so it’s incredible to finally be able to get this break.
“Just excited to work; to finally be able to put away the sponsorship books and cold calls and just be able to work at what I know, what I can do and what I love to do, which is driving and all the aspects of Indy car racing.”
Daly broke into the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2013, driving in the Indianapolis 500 for A.J. Foyt Racing. He was pressed into action in April at Long Beach as a substitute driver in a Dale Coyne Racing car, and drove in four races as the replacement for the injured James Hinchcliffe in a Schmidt Peterson Motorsports entry.
Daly had a best finish of sixth at Belle Isle-2, led his first laps in the series and was running at the finish in five races.
“I had to go in and make the best of every situation because I never knew what would happen next,” he said. “So when I got the opportunity at Long Beach last year or the chance to fill in for James I had to give my absolute best and focus on doing everything perfect.
“I think I can use that mind-set to my advantage and continue moving forward. The last three years have definitely been a humbling experience and tough on the mental side but we made it through.”
Daly will test with the team Dec. 14 at Sebring International Raceway.
“Working with (team manager) Darren (Crouser), (engineer) Mike Cannon and (chief mechanic) Todd Phillips on my car will be great,” Daly said. “They are experienced and really stoked to get this going. I was at the shop this week and it’s so nice for them to get things going before Christmas.
“We’re excited to go testing and be at a new level of prepared, and I have a high level of confidence in everyone on the team that we’ll be able to achieve great things next year.”
Meanwhile, Clauson will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 for a third time. The 100th Running is part of the 26-year-old Noblesville, Ind., resident's plan to drive in 200 open-wheel races in 2016.
"I'm excited to be returning to the Speedway in 2016 with the support of the Byrd family, the Jonathan Byrd's Hospitality & Restaurant Group and Cancer Treatment Centers of America," Clauson said. "I hope this is the start of a long and successful relationship between two groups of passionate supporters of open-wheel racing. The 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is the centerpiece of what is a very busy schedule for me in 2016 and I'm eager to get on track and build on the things that we learned this year."