IndyCar: Conor Daly to drive for Ed Carpenter Racing in 2020

Conor Daly has been confirmed as Ed Carpenter Racing’s road and street course driver and their third Indianapolis 500 driver for the 2020 IndyCar season.

Ed Carpenter Racing have confirmed their driver lineup for the 2020 IndyCar season, rounding it out with the announcement that Conor Daly is set to drive for the team in the road and street course races as well as the 104th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with sponsorship from the United States Air Force.

The 27-year-old Noblesville, Indiana native is set to share the driving duties of the #20 Chevrolet with team owner Ed Carpenter, as Carpenter is set to drive the car in the oval races only for the seventh consecutive season. The 2020 schedule includes 12 road and street course races and five oval races.

Daly is set to replace Ed Jones, who spent the 2019 season driving in the road and street course races for the team. His Indy 500 entry will be behind the wheel of a separate car. 2019 Indy Lights runner-up Rinus VeeKay was recently confirmed as the team’s full-time driver of the #21 Chevrolet for next year as the replacement for Spencer Pigot.

Here is what Daly had to say about this opportunity, according to IndyCar.

"“I am so thankful for the loyalty the U.S. Air Force has demonstrated along with the faith in me to get the job done. This has been an incredible relationship to see grow and get stronger as we continue to add races to our program. I couldn’t be happier to be getting one more step closer to full-time Indy car competition.“As an Indiana kid, it just feels right to be getting a chance with Ed Carpenter Racing. This team has done such an incredible job over the years, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for Ed and this group. I look forward to entering a season feeling fully prepared with simulator time and testing for the first time in several years.”"

Here is what Carpenter, who is from Indianapolis, Indiana, had to say.

"“I am extremely proud and excited to welcome Conor Daly and the U.S. Air Force to Ed Carpenter Racing. I have seen Conor grow and mature over the course of his career and am confident that his best years are yet to come. It is a huge honor to represent the men and women who serve in the U.S. Air Force and we hope to make them proud this season.”"

Here is what Major Ross McKnight, the Chief of Events Marketing for Air Force Recruiting, had to add.

"“The U.S. Air Force is fortunate to have some incredible partners and ambassadors for our brand and Conor is certainly one of them. We are proud of the effort and appreciative of the supportive partners that have made the Air Force Indy car program so successful. The results and direct correlation between STEM principles, speed, teamwork, risk, and precision skill drive our continued investment. We are excited for the 2020 season with Ed Carpenter Racing and Conor Daly.”"