IndyCar: 3 possible replacements for Conor Daly in 2024

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After parting ways with Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing will be searching for a full-time driver to fill his seat in the 2024 IndyCar season.

Ryan Hunter-Reay is set to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Chevrolet for the remainder of the 2023 IndyCar season.

However, is it possible that Hunter-Reay might only be a stop-gap replacement for the team while they search for a different driver to fill the seat full-time in 2024?

That decision will be crucial for an Ed Carpenter Racing team that have often struggled to compete at the front this year. Should they make the right choice when it comes to the driver of the No. 20 Chevrolet for 2024 and beyond, they could find themselves back in contention for wins.

Luckily for the team, there are plenty of candidates for them to choose from, and that list may grow depending on how the rest of the 2023 silly season plays out.

Possible Conor Daly replacements: No. 1 – Ryan Hunter-Reay

Ed Carpenter Racing’s first option is none of then the driver set to finish the 2023 season in the No. 20 Chevrolet. Ryan Hunter-Reay is an IndyCar veteran and has won both a championship and the Indy 500.

Though Hunter-Reay hasn’t won a race since 2018, he would bring stability to the team, and he could present growth opportunities for the organization as a whole. He is a marketable driver who could potentially help lure in new sponsors.

Throughout his career, Hunter-Reay has been a strong performer at the oval tracks in particular, having won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and the Milwaukee Mile.

Ed Carpenter Racing have historically performed well at the ovals, with half of the team’s six victories coming at such tracks. The team’s only two top 10 finishes so far this year came in the Indy 500.

With the potential for an increase in oval races on the 2024 schedule, there is a good chance that Hunter-Reay could find himself in contention should he be behind the wheel of the No. 20 Chevrolet.