[h=2]Daly confirmed for Indy 500 in Coyne-Burns entry[/h] Tuesday, 06 March 2018


Image by IMS Photo


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Dale Coyne Racing with Thom Burns Racing has confirmed an entry for Conor Daly in this year's Indianapolis 500.

Daly will drive the No.17 U.S. Air Force-sponsored Honda as he attempts to make his fifth career Indy 500 start. The Thom Burns Racing entry is the third for the DCR team alongside full-time entries driven by Sebastien Bourdais and rookie Pietro Fittipaldi

"We're very happy to have Conor Daly back with us for the Indy 500," said DCR team owner Dale Coyne. "Conor has done a great job for us in the past and we hope to continue that this year at IMS. We also very much look forward to working with Thom Burns Racing and we're extremely pleased and honored to be partnered and representing the United States Air Force."
Burns, who owns an Indianapolis-based property development company, is launching Thom Burns Racing after partnering with several Indianapolis 500 entries over the past 30 years. Burns has been involved since 1987 with entries for 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier, 1996 IndyCar co-champion Scott Sharp, Steve Chassey, Dominic Dobson and Jeff Andretti. Burns also was instrumental in forming CART team PacWest Racing with Bruce McCaw in the 1990s.
Daly, who had four top-10s in 2017 with AJ Foyt Racing, returns to a DCR team he raced with in 2016, scoring a career-best second in Race 1 at Detroit.
"It is an honor to have the opportunity to represent the Air Force at the Indianapolis 500," Daly said. "Memorial Day Weekend is an incredible time of appreciation for those who serve our country. I can't thank Dale Coyne enough for having me back on the team and Thom Burns enough for bringing this program together with the Air Force to give us a fighting chance at the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500.
"In conjunction with an incredible team of people at Dale Coyne Racing that I've had the pleasure of working with before, I think we will have a great opportunity to shine."

 

[h=2]Daly feels fortunate for Indy 500 shot[/h] Tuesday, 06 March 2018


By Robin Miller / Image by IMS Photo


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Asked which was more difficult – entering Turn 1 at Indianapolis at 220mph or finding funds to keep racing Indy cars – Conor Daly didn't hesitate.

"Finding money, that's a lot tougher," said the second-generation driver who was confirmed Tuesday as Dale Coyne's third entry in the 102nd Indianapolis 500. "It's been a crazy six months but I'm just thankful for Dale, Thom Burns and the U.S. Air Force.
"Without them I'd be a spectator this May."

Daly ended 2017 with some strong races for A.J. Foyt but learned upon returning from taping CBS' "The Amazing Race" that he'd been replaced by Matheus Leist, who reportedly brought Brazilian TV money to the four-time Indy winner's team.
A winner at every level in the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, the 26-year-old Noblesville native turned in some good drives for Coyne in 2016 before being hired full-time by Foyt for 2017.
"I thought I did a good enough job last year to keep my ride but obviously that feeling wasn't shared so you've got to move on and keep digging," said the son of the former F1/IndyCar regular Derek Daly.
"I guess what I've learned from this is that you can't be surprised by anything. Take advantage of your opportunities but never get comfortable because this is a crazy business."
Burns, who owns an Indianapolis property development company, has been helping field cars at Indy since 1987 for Steve Chassey, Jeff Andretti, Scott Sharp, Dominic Dobson and '96 Indy winner Buddy Lazier.
This will be Daly's fifth start at Indianapolis.
"I've got Dan Hobbs as my engineer and he was with me in my first test at Schmidt so I really like him and I think we'll click," said Daly. "Dale's got a lot of good people and it's a great environment so I feel fortunate to get this opportunity."