Juncos Hollinger Racing driver Conor Daly expressed significant frustration regarding an on-track incident with Alexander Rossi during the 2025 XPEL Grand Prix at Road America. The incident occurred during the 55-lap race when Rossi, driving for Ed Carpenter Racing, made contact with the side of Daly’s #76 car at Turn 5. Daly described the impact as severe, saying on the Speed Street podcast that he still could not feel his pointer finger on his left hand due to the hit. He questioned the race stewards post-race about why the incident did not result in a penalty for Rossi, highlighting his belief that penalties are only given if the driver on the outside crashes fully into a wall. Despite accepting this as part of racing, Daly found the situation very upsetting.

Daly started the race in 21st position and finished 22nd, having a particularly eventful race that included the contact with Rossi and another issue where he locked his rear brakes at Turn 5, which led him into the gravel. He admitted to having brake problems throughout the race, which made it difficult to recover after his mistake. Daly’s performance at Road America was disappointing, and he expressed a desire to bounce back strongly at the next event, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, scheduled for early July.

After nine rounds of the 2025 IndyCar season, Daly is 19th in the Drivers’ standings with 133 points, tied with Graham Rahal. Despite the challenges, Daly remains the lead driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing, ahead of teammate Sting Ray Robb. Daly has been competing in IndyCar since 2013, with over 100 starts, two podiums, and a pole position to his name. His 2025 season has been mixed, reflecting the struggles of a smaller team, but he continues to show determination.

The race at Road America itself was marked by several incidents and cautions. Daly’s crash was one of multiple accidents that contributed to a chaotic event. Other drivers like Robert Shwartzman and Sting Ray Robb also retired after hitting the wall. Alex Palou won the race, navigating the high temperatures and chaotic conditions with a smart pit strategy, extending his points lead significantly. Felix Rosenqvist and Santino Ferrucci completed the podium. Daly finished 22nd, 64 seconds behind the winner.

In summary, Conor Daly’s frustration stems from a hard collision with Alexander Rossi that caused injury and no penalty, compounded by mechanical issues and a difficult race at Road America. Daly looks forward to improving his results in upcoming races as he continues his 2025 IndyCar campaign.