MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Popular NTT IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly will part ways with Ed Carpenter Racing, effective immediately, according to a team statement that was released on Wednesday afternoon.
Team owner/driver Ed Carpenter announced that the team and Conor Daly have mutually agreed to end their relationship. The No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet will continue as a full-time entry through the remaining NTT IndyCar Series season.
“This is the most difficult decision I have made as a team owner because I respect Conor and know what he means to IndyCar and its fans,” Carpenter said. “Our team has not been performing at the level we are capable of this year, and despite making technical changes and investments in the offseason, 2023 has been extremely challenging.
“I have put a great deal of consideration into the current state of our team and realize it is my obligation to our employees, partners and supporters to do whatever is necessary to elevate our team’s competitiveness.
“We sincerely wish Conor continued success and will cheer him on wherever he goes next.”
Daly, who has legions of fans because of his friendly nature and the fact he hails from Noblesville, Ind., and the son of former Formula One and CART driver Derek Daly, said he was grateful for the opportunity with the team.
“Although we’ve mutually decided that it’s in our best interests to take different paths, I’d like to thank ECR for the past three and a half seasons,” Daly said. “I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me — past, present and into the future. I look forward to taking on the next opportunities that await, and I want to thank the fans for being with me on this ride.”
The status of the No. 21 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet is unaffected, as well as the ovals-only program of the No. 33 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet. Information regarding the driver of the No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet for the upcoming event at Road America will be released in due course, according to a team statement.
“Rinus Veekay, he’s on a multi-year agreement, but Conor is in the last year of a multi-year agreement,” Carpenter said on Feb. 1 at IndyCar Media Day in Palm Springs, Calif. “We’ll see where it goes. There’s those conversations, an element to that that is team and driver. There’s obviously an element that the partner and sponsor is connected with.
“We’re fortunate we all have a great relationship, we all work really well together. We’ll just see what happens. So long as everything is successful, hopefully it will be a long-lasting partnership.”