By Christopher DeHarde, IndyCar & Road to Indy Writer
“It’s hard to live, guys, it’s hard. Life is expensive. Adulting is weird.”
Those were the words spoken by Conor Daly as he brought the house down at INDYCAR Media Day in a session with his new AJ Foyt Racing teammate Carlos Munoz. Daly, the recent transplant after spending his 2016 rookie season with Dale Coyne Racing, had been living with fellow competitor James Hinchcliffe.
“I have not [gotten] my own place but I have decided to move on with my life and try and let Hinch be his own adult because let’s be honest, life continues on and I’ve got to take the next step of adulthood.”
“I don’t know where that’ll be yet, but my mom’s house is still free so that looks nice still,” said Daly.
“The best part is once we start traveling you’re never in one place for more than a day, so we take shelter here for about 24 hours and then we’re on to the next race so I don’t care if it’s at mom’s house, I’ll get a place eventually.”
Mom’s house isn’t that bad though, especially considering that more and more young people are returning home after college, so Daly isn’t alone in that regard. Where Daly isn’t alone is in his status with AJ Foyt Racing.
Daly is the first American driver hired for a full season with the Texas and Indiana-based team that is not related to A.J. Foyt since Jeff Ward in 2000. That fact resonated pretty well for the Pro Mazda and Indy Lights race winner.
“It’s pretty cool, really just the whole American package that we’ve put together, aside from Dallara, it’s about as free as you get. So it’s going to be pretty cool just to be waving that flag,” Daly added.
“I don’t know how we can do it, but when they asked me about my merchandise for this year all I said was patriotic, so make it whatever that would be. It’s cool to be a part of it and just to be an American and have ABC Supply, the red, white and blue is so recognizable. So for me to be a part of that family is really cool and carrying the flag.”
The 25-year-old Indiana native got his first test with the team back at Sebring in 2013 and now has the opportunity to be the standard bearer for the team that first let him drive at the top level of North American open wheel racing.
