Baby Photos in a Nissan GTP with Conor Daly

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Katherine Legge is joined by racing driver Conor Daly. They discuss his early influences and experiences in a racing family to his development as a driver and transitioning across different series. They discuss the importance of perseverance, including getting back in the car after an engine fire and the challenge of attracting sponsors and cultivating a presence in the racing world.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Throttle Therapy with Catherine Legg is an iHeart Woman's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
You can find us on the iHeartRadio.

Speaker 3 (00:16):
App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello
and welcome you guys to this episode of Throttle Therapy
with Me Catherine Legg and this week.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
I am super stoked.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Actually to have one of my favorite drivers on my podcasts.
As I said, one of my favorite drivers on the planet.
He's super versatile. If I were building a dream team,
I would definitely have him on it, not only for
his driving, but for everything else that he brings to
the table, which, in my humble opinion, is equal parts grit, chaos, talent,

(00:54):
and humor. Welcome to Throttle Therapy, Connor Daily.

Speaker 4 (00:59):
Thank you that an intro, a dream team, grit, all
those things, I'll take it. I love that. Yeah, I'm
going to put that on my gravestone, all those things.
I love that.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
You should.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
I was arming and ring about the chaos because I
was like, I don't know whether everybody knows that part
about you, but I'm pretty sure that they do.

Speaker 4 (01:18):
No, I love that. I appreciate that feels great. And
I'm happy to be here with you because you've been
on my podcast as well, So thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
I was just going to say that I was going
to say, are you not podcasted out by now? Because
your podcast what is it? Speed Street?

Speaker 4 (01:35):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Awesome? But you you spent the time coming online, which
I really appreciate.

Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, no worries, it's a little speed Street. Yeah, all right, Connor.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
I want to start at the beginning, which is not
that long ago because you're still very young.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
But where did it all start for you?

Speaker 1 (01:56):
Like?

Speaker 2 (01:56):
How old were you when you.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
First realized that you were interested in racing? Did your
dad take you to the track and expose you to
it from an early age? Do you think you would
have wanted to go racing if it wasn't for your dad,
Like how did it all kind of develop in a
young conn.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
Of daily's mind.

Speaker 4 (02:14):
Well, that's a great question. I obviously grew up in
a racing family. You know, as soon as I was born,
I was in the Nissan GTP car that my dad
was driving at Seabring as like a several month old baby.
I was born in December and my first Seabring twelve
hour was nineteen ninety two. Because I was an infant

(02:34):
in my dad's Nissan GTP car. I had no idea
what was going on, but the pictures looked cool, and after,
you know, as I grew up. He retired when I
was born, so I didn't I never actually got to
see my dad race, which is kind of odd, I guess,
because everyone's like, oh, it was so awesome to see
your dad race a lot of people, and I was like,

(02:55):
I never did. I I never got to see it,
so I only just heard things and saw things. And
what's crazy is now, in this social media era, I
see more and more of my dad's races now because
people put put clips on YouTube and all these people
love like these like historic racing Twitter accounts will just
like put up clips. I'm like, well, I haven't seen

(03:17):
that before. But it's cool to see, Like, all the
media that we have access to and the people, the
technology that we've got where we can get a hold
of all this old footage is really cool for folks
like me because I keep seeing more and more of
my dad racing and it's you know, forty years later
or whatever it is, So that's been cool. But yeah,
he didn't force me into racing. I just picked it up.

(03:37):
Our neighbor decided that he wanted to get a go kart,
and then they invited my dad to the racetrack because
he obviously knew something about what he was talking about.
And I just tagged along and I got into the
go kart and I was ten years old and I
enjoyed it, and the neighbor decided that they did not,
so they just gave us the go kart and that
then became my go kart, and the rest from then

(04:01):
on is history, as they say it.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
So did you think, oh, I'm good at this, like naturally?
Did you have cutting dad where he was telling you
all of the things that you needed to be doing,
or did you just like take to it.

Speaker 4 (04:17):
So I tried to play all the other sports. I
played soccer, I played football, basketball. I loved basketball so badly.
Wish I was like six' eight and had a great jump,
shot BUT i am. Not SO i practiced it all those,
things but it wasn't LIKE i didn't enjoy the. PRACTICE
i just like game. Time whereas, racing like WHEN i

(04:39):
got into the go, kart it did come a little
bit natural to, Me like he. Didn't my dad didn't
necessarily have to explain like racing, Lines LIKE i just
kind of figured it. Out and then there was a
few things THAT i, think as you would, know because
you're obviously a very talented racecar driver, yourself there are
things that come natural that have to come. Natural you
can't necessary early learn how to be at the elite

(05:04):
level that you, know we've been able to make it.
Too so, YEAH i JUST i just kind of kept
going with. It he made me start reading mechanical engineering
books WHEN i was like, twelve get the you, know
what are the torsion bars on the go? Carts? Do
what do we do if we adjust the camber on
the front? End you, know how to have this that
and whatever axle. STIFFNESSES i had to understand all of

(05:25):
those things mechanically because he wanted me to, be you,
know a very well sorted, out engineering focused. Driver SO i,
could you, know tell all the feedback THAT i needed to, say,
uh and, yeah that was that was.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
It.

Speaker 4 (05:39):
Though we just kind of kept going at. It we
got the, trailer we started working on the go cart
in our, barn and things kind of went. Well and
there were the funny thing about. GOKARTING i feel like
is you feel like a hero one day AND i
remember finishing like last at another race AND i was,
like what happened? Here like the, well the go cart was,
Bad like we just didn't didn't get like the, track you,

(06:00):
know just there was just something about, it and we you,
know you'd go to a different track with a different bill,
card you're, like, oh this is perfect. Again so it
was just such a weird, ride but, like THANKFULLY i
won more than, not so that's. Good and THEN i
guess that kind of propelled us up into, like all,
right maybe we should try a race car and then,
yeah and then that started a whole nother path of

(06:22):
excitement and chaos and you know. Life did you go to?

Speaker 2 (06:28):
School did you go to?

Speaker 4 (06:29):
University SO i went TO i did graduate high. SCHOOL
i didn't go to COLLEGE k through, twelve THOUGH i went.
ALL i did all the. YEARS i did as much
schooling AS i could do because my parents wanted me
to for sure graduate from high. School but my last
like my last semester in high, SCHOOL i THINK i
was in The Pro Maza championship at the, time AND
i had to do like the last semester online BECAUSE

(06:51):
i WAS i, MEAN i was full time, racing AND
i was. SEVENTEEN i WAS i, MEAN i was traveling
every weekend and that was. That BUT i did show
up to graduation and several people asked IF i still
went to this school and WHAT i was doing? There
SO i. DID i did. Graduate that's.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Amazing was your dad happy that you wanted to do? Racing?

Speaker 1 (07:11):
Always he, like oh, shit it's gonna end up costing
me a bunch of, money and are you sure you
want to do.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
IT i can give you some golf clubs or a tennis.
Racket it's.

Speaker 4 (07:18):
Cool my, dad, honestly he embraced. IT i think he.
Was you, KNOW i wouldn't be Where i'm at today without.
Him he's very hard on, me, though obviously because he
knew how hard it was to make it. Right like
as you, know as a lot of us, know it's
you have to sacrifice. Everything you have to be willing
to give up everything that you do for fun or

(07:40):
anything that you do on the, Side like you have
to be your, mind, body and soul has to be
dedicated to trying to make it to this game that
we're that we're that we're. Playing you, know there's there's
eight seven billion people in the world and there's only
thirty three spots at the eighty five, Hundred, right it's
a very small group of people that get to be
a part of it every every. Year and you have

(08:01):
to be the best that you could be to make it,
there and you have to be the best in. General
so he knew, that AND i think putting that onto
a child is very, difficult like, that that's that's, hard like,
that that's a tough. Situation but it was all Worth
Like i'm glad that he said what he. DID i,
Mean i'm glad that HE i guess made it hard

(08:25):
because he was, right like it was definitely a challenge
the whole way. Through and you, Know i'm very appreciative of.
Him and he was my. Manager and then after LIKE gp,
three and then ONCE i got like twenty, thirteen after
my First indy five hundred and once kind of My
formula one dreams went, away he was, Like i've got

(08:48):
to kind of continue living my own. Life and THEN
i took it. Over so that's kind of where he
still hung, Out but it was more so LIKE i
had to continue my own journey IF i really wanted
to make.

Speaker 1 (09:01):
IT i feel like there's so many similarities between, us
BECAUSE i think your dad and my dad treted it
very similarly that they wanted us to leave, them that
it wasn't their, thing and it sounds like That he's
kind of shaped your mindset early on around pressure and
expectations and like how much work you've got to put
in and all.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
The, things and it kind of created the, monster if
you like it.

Speaker 4 (09:26):
Did, yeah and what a monster? WAS i, mean raising
is is going to challenge all the way. Through And
i've been very lucky to you, know to get you,
know to Drive formula one, cars to get very close to,
that you know that that goal that we all HAD
i feel like growing, up and you, KNOW i got
to win races. OVERSEAS i got to you, know go
up against some of the best in the world and

(09:46):
beat them and gain a lot of experience doing, that
and then obviously make it To, IndyCar which was not
a bad. Thing it was you, know it was also
a dream of mine as. WELL i would Say it's
been very bumpy throughout My IndyCar journey at, times and
very not the WAY i foresaw. It as a. CHILD
i wanted A lamborghini by age twenty. ONE i was,
Like i'm going to make A tindy, Car i'm going

(10:07):
to have a. Supercar i'm going to have WHAT i.
Want this is going to be. AMAZING i was so,
wrong but but there. Has there has been some amazing
moments THAT i will remember, forever AND i, hope you,
know there's obviously still a lot of amazing moments. Ahead but,
yeah it's it's It's it's taught me so much about,
life taught me so much about interacting with people and

(10:28):
business and marketing and just athleticism that, yeah you could
never get anywhere.

Speaker 1 (10:35):
Else. YEAH i love that you say positive and you
think that you are lucky and you're, grateful and it's
really easy for. Me, ALSO i have to keep remembering
all the cool shit that we've, done, Right but you
always want, more and it's always like the struggle is
the focus and the wanting, more wanting to do, andy

(10:56):
wanting to do, this wanting to do. THAT i wonder
how very different both of us because we had a
very similar kind of coming up through starting In, europe
coming up like we've both had to kind of claw
our way through. It we both had to be versatile
and take whatever opportunities kind of came in front of.
Us BUT i wonder if we'd been picked up by

(11:16):
like A Penske, OREGON i see early on in our,
career before you get to twenty, One, like how different
would our paths have. Been would we have taken it for?
Granted would we have made the most of? It what
would we would we Be scott dixonal would we have
failed in a couple of years because we were out?

Speaker 4 (11:31):
Partying, YEAH i mean that's a great. QUESTION i mean
it's such a dangerous game to play, though because you're,
like there are so many what ifs in our. Sport
if people, KNEW i, mean if people knew how CLOSE
i think any of us were to certain situations, Right
LIKE i, remember you, know in twenty, ELEVEN i was

(11:52):
Doing Indie lights AND gp, three and you, know there
was an opportunity Where Charlie kimball got hurt And ganassi
needed a driver for the diabetes car AND i was
A type one. Diabetic, Obviously Mike hall had called my
dad to see IF i you would would substitute For

(12:14):
Charlie kimball and Mid ohio and you know Midd ohio
very difficult track, PHYSICALLY i, personally looking back on it,
NOW i was nowhere near ready to do that BECAUSE
i was just about as fit AS i could be
FOR gp, three and the team over there had made
me lose like a ton of. WEIGHT i was, like,
BASICALLY i was A i was a needle of a.
HUMAN i had no. MUSCLES i was JUST i was

(12:37):
a dying. PERSON i was not WHAT i was really
meant to, be but they they were making me do.
THAT i was, like all, right, whatever BUT i often
look my dad, said, no he's, like, No, connor you,
know he's probably not going to be as ready as
he could be to do the best job possible for

(13:00):
this type of. Opportunity BUT i now. WONDER i was,
LIKE i feel like you got to say yes to.
EVERYTHING i feel like you can't turn those types of things.
Down And i'm kind of, upset, like, ah you, know
that would have been cool to drive, freakinhasty even though
you KNOW i would have been very behind the. CAR
i would have, been but who. Knows obviously you never

(13:20):
know what would have happened from then. On so there's
there's a.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
Lot of those do it you could have done?

Speaker 1 (13:25):
It?

Speaker 4 (13:25):
Skinny, well, NO i maybe it. Was it's just one
of those things that you look back on and and
there there are a hundred other things like that where
like if someone called the one, day you'd be, like,
OH i was gonna be driving for that team if this,
happened or like this opportunity was right, there and then
something else. Collide like there are so many different situations
where you, know life has its has a way of working.

(13:49):
Out sometimes it's one, direction sometimes it's. Another obviously everything
happens for a. Reason but, yeah like you, mentioned like
what if we had been given that. Chance it's it's
so difficult to think about because those top, teams like
they truly are an entirely different world as someone who
LIKE i haven't got to drive For. Pennzke you're gonna see,

(14:10):
obviously but you, KNOW i got to be a part
of the you, Know aero McLaren team as they were
becoming Very moore McLaren WHEN i substituted For Marcus erickson
like a twenty nineteen incredible to see what was going
on in that. Organization AND i mean, again you get in,
there you're LIKE i had never been To portland qualified
the thing in the top, ten you're, like, oh this is,

(14:31):
Awesome LIKE i didn't even think it was so. Cool
but you, know you get wrecked in the in the
turn one and you're, like all, right you never get
to race with them. Again and then The andrettie. Situation you,
know getting to do the five hundred WITH andretti still
one of the coolest experiences of my career to be
a part of that. Organization you, know my Engineer andy
is actually gonna be Will power as engineer this. YEAR

(14:52):
i think it's pretty much a lock for them to
win the. Championship he's the, best like one of the
best Engineers i've ever worked, with and he hasn't got
to work with a guy like Will power or at
that level yet In Indy. Cars So i'm excited to
see what he can do. There but you get a
taste of it and you can see why it's different
and why those folks are as successful as they.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
Are, yeah, MAN i really hope you're right about will
BECAUSE i still can't believe That penske dropped him when
he's still freaking. AWESOME i just can't GET i can't
wrap my head around. It SO i hope that he
does that to kind of LIKE i don't.

Speaker 4 (15:26):
Know as soon AS i saw That Andy Andy listis
was his, ENGINEER i was, like you know, what we
might as well go. Home that guy is so good
And will is so Good, will So i'm very. Curious,
yeah that'd be.

Speaker 1 (15:41):
Awesome we're going to take a quick, break but we'll
be right.

Speaker 2 (15:46):
Back welcome back To Toronto.

Speaker 1 (15:52):
Therapy, so having raced Across europe and Across North america
and both Naw car And IndyCar and all kinds of
things sports cars, everything how how did you find going
To europe at a young age comparatively to racing In?

Speaker 2 (16:11):
America and, like was it weird culture to you because
of your?

Speaker 1 (16:16):
Dad did you have most of those cultural things but
over to The, states so you were like aware of?

Speaker 2 (16:21):
Them and were you? Lonely were you LIKE i hate.

Speaker 1 (16:24):
The european way of doing things BECAUSE i feel Like
i've got a life in my Back where are? You,
LIKE i can tell you from DOING, DTM i did
not have a good, time and that's WHY i came
back to The. States it is a completely different sport
to me over, there not maybe these, days but especially back,
then and SO i didn't enjoy. It So i'm curious

(16:46):
going the other, way whether you did or, not.

Speaker 4 (16:50):
It was very. Difficult that's like the first thing THAT i,
MEAN i went though with only one goal and now
was to be A Formula one. Driver LIKE i went over,
THERE i was, like this is WHAT i have to,
Do like there's no other there's no other. Path what
year was, that twenty? Eleven, okay SO i had won
all THAT i could win In, america, RIGHT i just
skip our national, championship The Pro, maza the. CHAMPIONSHIP i

(17:11):
had won those two AND i was, LIKE i was
leading The Indie Lights championship WHEN i, left and so you,
know it was the right, time it was the right.
Momentum Trevor carlin believed to. Me he signed me for
my first year IN gb three at like a very discounted,
rate thank. God but we had the scholarship money too
from The mazero To, indy which was. Helpful and then

(17:33):
as my first year IN gp three, Progressed like the
very first race IN gb, THREE i qualified twenty ninth
of thirty, cars like the horrible In, turkey AND i was, like,
man this is like what the heck? Is Like pearrelli
tire was so. Weird just such a Different everything was
different about it and the WAY i, communicated like with my,
engineers just everything was. Different and they they just THOUGHT

(17:56):
i was this, dumb Fat american, honestly like that was
it AND i was not there any of those. Things
LIKE i was literally leading The Indy Lights championship at
the time and feeling really good about. Myself but it
was it was just a different. Lifestyle and so as
we went, along like it just got a little bit
better every, Weekend like we started scoring, points, okay and
now we're now we're running the top ten. More, okay

(18:17):
now we now we're getting close with the, podium and
like by the end of the, season you, know my
dad had been interacting with The Force India Formula one
team because there was a guy there that he had
worked with in the, past and they were sort of
looking at this driver development system and there were No
americans In formula, one of, course and so at the
end of that year we figured out a way to you,
know they they saw enough in me to where they were,

(18:40):
like all, right we're gonna we're gonna put you with
the you, know the winning, Team like we're a good
art The french team Obviously art they had won the
championship the year before and that was where you needed to.
Be so they signed me to a development contract for
the for the next two years to DO gp, three
and you, know at the end of twenty, thirteen, THOUGH
i had to win the championship to keep that contract.

(19:01):
Going like in twenty, fourteen they would have put me
IN f TWO gp two at the, time you, KNOW
i would have done SOME fp one's with those, guys
and you, know it's the dream of like it was
the dream of what you want to, do and you,
KNOW i was winning. Races we were on the podium a.
LOT i THINK i had like thir fourteen podiums in
two years or, something which IS i don't know if

(19:22):
anyone had more than that in a two year. Period
it was it was pretty LIKE i felt good about,
it like we were at the. Front BUT i got
wrecked in the second to last race In monza in twenty,
thirteen and when you get like basically it was the
worst possible way to go out of a championship because
if you get wrecked in race, one you start where

(19:43):
you finish in race one in race, two so you
basically lose two full races of points BECAUSE i started
twenty eighth in race two At, MONZA i went twenty
eighth to eighth set fast lap of the. Race that's
only three points, Though so it was just. Nothing it didn't.
Matter that was still one of my best drives of
my whole, life but it doesn't, matter you know WHAT i,

(20:04):
Mean like it just was irrelevant Because Danny, kveat who
obviously drove For Red bull And Formula, one he was
able to win a championship and then that that was
my Whole european here over because once, that you, know
that contract went, away that was that was. It but
it was a like long story long all of those.
EXPERIENCES i was. LONELY i live by myself In. ENGLAND

(20:28):
i you, KNOW i would drive to most of the
races by. MYSELF i was looking At facebook pages and
all my friends were in, college you, know having a
great look like there was a great, lifestyle AND i
didn't so much as LIKE i didn't have any friends
really over, There LIKE i would hang out with some
of the, drivers other, drivers but it just wasn't that
just wasn't what you were there. For LIKE i was

(20:48):
only there to like cook, meals not die and run
like that's ALL i, had like just keep myself, alive
run every day and slowly become a tea drinker as.
Well that was that was one thing that also, happened
so that that was, no not a mar mic, guy,
no but it. Was it was. TOUGH i mean as a,

(21:11):
kid as a as a just a young, kid like
a young person growing. Up all you're doing is being
criticized the whole, time like there's there was no even
IF i won the, race like there was there was,
nothing like not really any. Happiness it was just like
you suck, here you suck, here we have to do
this to be. Better i'm, like all, right well, NO

(21:31):
i get. It so there's really no it was a brutal,
environment but such as motorsport in. General SO i think
over here in The states it's a way better environment
for JUST i would say human interaction in. General AND

(21:52):
i don't know if that's.

Speaker 2 (21:53):
A full rather than half.

Speaker 4 (21:54):
Empty, yeah, yeah that's definitely that's definitely the way it.
IS i feel like SO i And i'm very curious
to see like What Cole hrder thinks about it this.
YEAR i, mean like Cold hurder going to fight the
good fight in f too this, year, right and it's
and he's you, know one of the best of the
BEST i think right, Now so it's going to be
an INTERESTING i look forward to is after a first
couple of race weekends hearing a.

Speaker 2 (22:15):
Report, yeah is he going over so? Low where is
he going over with a support? TEAM i don't.

Speaker 4 (22:20):
Know, HONESTLY i assume he'll be well taken care. OF
i assume that that is not going to be a
shoe string budget type. Operation, yeah that's.

Speaker 1 (22:28):
TRUE i think if, you if you had a support
team around here and you had your, people it might
be a different. Experience BUT i was very similar to.
You so obviously we've spoken about how our early struggles
and our parents have shaped us as the people and
drivers that we've. Become but what do you think your
lowest point during racing has? Been? Like when can you

(22:51):
say that? Was that was the worst TIME i managed
to dig out WHO i.

Speaker 4 (22:55):
Think there's a, COUPLE i, mean the, first the first
one THAT i really had to, LIKE i was very
lucky and very you, know successful on the way, up
So i'd never dealt with like ONCE i got to
the end of twenty, THIRTEEN i had already done my
First indy five, hundred LIKE i was racing full time In.
EUROPE i was testing for me the one CARS i
was in the in THE gp three championship, FIGHT i

(23:17):
did the eighty five hundred like as a side, project
you know. WHAT i, like that was, Crazy LIKE i had
been paid to do that race, too which was like
one of the First like that was. COOL i got
paid to be a race car driver for the first.
Time and THEN i didn't win THE gv Three championship
was complete disaster and my dad was, LIKE i can't
manage you. Anymore so you got to figure this out
if you want to keep. Racing LIKE i, THOUGHT i was, like,

(23:39):
okay well what AM i going to do? Now so
that that was the first. One BECAUSE i didn't know
what to. DO i didn't have any, MONEY i didn't
have any. SPONSORS i was, like we got to figure this.
OUT i Had there was a guy named Ian Ian
bergen who helped me out a little. Bit he was
An irish fella as well like my, dad and he
kind of helped out by, saying, Look i've got a
few of these companies that might be able to help you.

(23:59):
Out maybe we can DO gp two with this like
shoe string operation, budget but it just didn't. Work it
just didn't work. Out AND i did like half a
schedule because no money ever came, through and you, know
it's JUST i was, LIKE i don't even know WHAT
i can't like THIS gp two stuff was, awesome but
it was the worst. Team it just wasn't. Good like

(24:21):
nothing was going. Right everything was going, wrong and twenty
FOURTEEN i didn't. KNOW i didn't do any IndyCar races
in twenty, fourteen BUT i was always. There WAS I
i was trying to be there WHEN i could BECAUSE
i was like semi committed To, europe but THEN i
was trying to figure out what was going on In.
America so that was a tough moment for me because
twenty fourteen was a year of LIKE i drove just

(24:44):
anything randomly and sort OF gp, two BUT i wasn't
really in. It and then twenty, fifteen you, know over that,
offseason all ALL i could do was The indie. FIVE
i was, like, OH i got to do the five.
HUNDRED i think that's all THAT i can. Do so
in twenty, FIFTEEN i raised thirty thousand dollars to do this,
test So Sam schmid's seem AND i thought that was

(25:06):
going To, oh if it goes well, Enough i'm going
to get a full time. Ride, yeah we all think,
that and it did go, well BUT i didn't have you,
know Michel A leshen got the seat and he obviously
had a lot Of russian money at the, time and that's, fair.

Speaker 3 (25:23):
BUT i.

Speaker 4 (25:23):
Did we did end up finding a sponsor for The
indy five. Hundred it Was Smithfield, meats bacon and all
kinds of pork, products and so that was. IT i was,
like all, right ALL i have is THE ndy five
hundred on my. Schedule it has to go. Well this is.
It and that was the year That hinch got hurt
at the speedway as. Well we were teammates and my
car caught on fire on the pace. Lap SO i

(25:45):
did exactly zero lapse of the. Race so that was
again the low point for me was basically all of
twenty fourteen into twenty fifteen BECAUSE i was, like this
cannot be this, Bad like this cannot be LIKE i
found my indie car career was you, know this is
my chance to. Shine didn't even get to start the,
race but it did create an opportunity to substitute For

(26:09):
james at the like the next few, races and that
was what kind of launched me actually into you, know,
Driving so that that was that was probably a tough
moment for, Me but AGAIN i knew WHAT i wanted to.
Do and it's the same WHEN i got you, know
WHEN i got fired at the end of twenty, seventeen
Or i'll replaced by a large check essentially at the

(26:29):
end of twenty, Seventeen, Like i'm not going to go
out like. THIS i just it's not it's just NOT
i know WHAT i can do in this, game so,
LIKE i don't want to let it. Stop and So
i've just continued from then on to if something bad,
happens like if for some REASON i get moved out
of a ride purely because of money or something, Like

(26:51):
i'm not going to let it. Stop i'm not going
to let this journey. Stop and, so you, know twenty
eighteen was, tough twenty like twenty end of twenty twenty
three was, tough BUT i just never. Stopped i'm never
gonna give up UNTIL i go out in a. Ballfire, Honestly, no.

Speaker 2 (27:10):
Never gonna give. UP i feel that deep inside my.

Speaker 1 (27:13):
Soul do you think there was one race in that
time period that the paddock saw you? Differently do you
think there was one defining moment where they're, like holy,
money because you are renowned as like the best oval.

Speaker 2 (27:28):
Driver there is an.

Speaker 1 (27:29):
IndyCar so is there one moment that you were, like,
yeah see that's WHAT i, got that's WHAT i can,
do and everybody was like holy shit kind of.

Speaker 4 (27:38):
DAY i honestly couldn't hate the oval thing. More, LOOK
i hate the fact that that has become like a.
THING i hate, it, yeah BECAUSE i MEAN i like,
ovals but Like i'm not an oval. Guy like my
First oval race ever in my, LIFE i was like
eighteen years. OLD i didn't grow up on. OVALS i
didn't do. It and, like, honestly my first moment WHERE i,

(28:00):
thought when you look at, timing like in these last few, years,
right if rookies get in and they like they have
one race like oh, wow he got to the. Front
this is, crazy they like get signed BY msr immediately
Or ganassi or like there's Like i've seen some wild.
STUFF i, mean, yeah it's, insane and it's like one you,

(28:20):
know one moment is LIKE i feel like in our modern,
society it's a moment, Society like that moment is like,
Boom like you have like people that get instantaneously famous
on the internet right by saying, one like all of a,
sudden they're superstars because of one viral moment and.

Speaker 2 (28:36):
Social media baby.

Speaker 4 (28:38):
Exactly BUT i think that like that kind of went
to racing a little. Bit but WHEN i got In
hinch's car At detroit right after the five, HUNDRED i
had never. DONE i had done one day in on
a street course in an. IndyCar WHEN i substituted at
Deal Coin racing For Rocky Moran junior in twenty, fifteen
got to do one. Race crazy yeah, yeah but that,

(29:01):
RACE i led the majority of that race in the
rain In, detroit AND i was, like, oh this is like,
awesome just having a great. Time we finished sixth in
the very first race THAT i did with that, team
and it was a. Doubleheader so the next race we,

(29:22):
QUALIFIED i think we. WERE i qualified on the front,
row but the lap got deleted for some like yell
like weird yellow flag yellow flag rule that got changed
the next year like someone had gone. Off but LIKE
i am LIKE i was on the front row of
that race as, well but we had to start in the,
back came through the, field and Then ryan Hunterray uh

(29:43):
took me out on a. Restart so that, weekend THOUGH
i thought was like, OKAY i was, like that's got
into a great car with a great, team ran at
the front in the, rain like terrible conditions at one
of the most difficult. Tracks, still for, me that's like
one of the proudest moments of my career AND i
honestly think that's WHY i got my rookie year deal

(30:05):
in twenty sixteen with Dale. Coin was was were those
moments because like, IT i, mean it's hard to get into,
IndyCar but like, that that type of viral. MOMENT i
feel like IF i did that in twenty twenty three
or twenty twenty, four that would have been like.

Speaker 2 (30:20):
The next best.

Speaker 4 (30:21):
Thing, oh here we, go like we're going to the,
Bank like it's gonna be. Awesome but you, know it
was just a different time. Period it was just not
not the.

Speaker 2 (30:28):
Same, YEAH i KNOW i needed another one of those, moments.

Speaker 4 (30:31):
Moments like that on On Rodent Street court like even
even you, know any like a lot of my, moments
like the rookie year where you, know With Dale, COYNE
i had eight different. TEAMMATES i think that year like
we were again super, small like you drove For, dale
like you know how it goes at times like it's you,
know they're probably not the same level of of you,
know finances behind the operation.

Speaker 2 (30:52):
And it's so politically. Correct, yes small, group, right it's, yeah.

Speaker 4 (30:56):
Great people great like we, are like we did, great
like we. PASSED i got THE i got the trophy
for passing more cars than anyone else that. YEAR i was, Like, okay, cool,
Nice but again it's that does it matter? MUCH i don't,
Know but for, me those are proud moments for me
BECAUSE i feel like that was a really good era

(31:17):
of racing and uh and, YEAH i Guess i'm an
oval guy, now BUT i JUST i don't even think
about that. Stuff the oval stuff for me is it's not,
easy BUT i Just i'm going where no one else
is going BECAUSE i don't. CARE i would rather die
than than than like, Something, YEAH i would rather die
than like not go for it on the. OVALS i

(31:37):
think it's easier to go forward on the. Ovals on
the root, courses like there's grass and walls like, that
and like there's not much you can do that's like
above the, limit you know WHAT i. Mean, yeah but.

Speaker 2 (31:51):
You're close to the, wall and so it feels, like, yeah,
NO i totally get.

Speaker 1 (31:55):
It we're going to take a quick, break but we
will be right. Back welcome back to throttle.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
Therapy we were At. Iowa was it last?

Speaker 1 (32:11):
Year, no it was the year, before because now we're
in the new, year and we were on a RESTAR
i think it was raised, too And i'm like going
around the outside AND i passed four people and then
all of a, sudden you came round the outside of,
me And.

Speaker 2 (32:24):
I'm, like holy, crap how is that even?

Speaker 1 (32:26):
Possible LIKE i THOUGHT i was being a hero right,
now and you're like rim. SHOTTING i don't, Know, okay
quest especial Nowsh.

Speaker 4 (32:39):
Ovals are. Hard oh ovals are.

Speaker 1 (32:41):
GREAT i really like it BECAUSE i feel like it
adds an element of like. Strategy and on a road,
course you can park somebody in the middle of a,
corner you can get a run on, them you can outbreak,
them you can do different. Things but on an, oval
you really need like two or three set up to
exactly know what you're going to. Do so it's like

(33:02):
a thinking thing, Too SO i think you have to
be smart to be good on an. Oval so crude
us for that that you speaking of ovals, actually but also.

Speaker 4 (33:12):
The funny thing like when you, SAY i love pointing
this out to people to on the ovals you can
rely so much more on the arrow and tires. Too,
Right so even if you're maybe not with like the
best team with all the right mechanical, stuff when you're
on a road course and you slow down to sixty
seventy miles an hour and fifty miles an hour in a,
corner you're not relying on the arrow. Anymore you're purely

(33:32):
relying on what the team has done inside the car
mechanically to help you navigate those. Corners AND i feel
like it brings, like, obviously you can have a bad
car on an oval and that's the worst day, Ever
like that's literally a bad day on an oval is
like literally you feel like you're gonna. Die it's. Horrible
but if you're at least in the, ballpark you're way
more capable as a driver to do something with it

(33:55):
than on a road course because you're you can't do
anything else on a road, course like you just kind
of stuck with it in the race.

Speaker 2 (34:01):
Essentially, OH i would say this. Accurate, yeah but a
bad day is a bad.

Speaker 1 (34:05):
DAYLIGHT i think what people don't understand is the people
at the back of the grid, sometimes like take THE
ny five hundred for, example and take me trying to
qualify in The DALE, Coincr, like you don't realize that
the people at the front of the grid have it
so much easier than the people at the back of
the grid because they just have to turn and they
just turn the wheel and steer and it goes where

(34:26):
you want it to. Go AND i know this BECAUSE
i Drove Sam Schmidt's indy car back in the day
AND i was, like holy, crap this is. Amazing it
goes WHERE i want it to.

Speaker 2 (34:34):
Go it's easy almost like my grandma could drive this.

Speaker 1 (34:36):
Car D and when you're at the when you're at
the back and you're fighting, IT i think people don't
realize that so much of it is the, car and
they think that.

Speaker 2 (34:48):
The drivers are the front of the best, drivers and
that's not always the.

Speaker 4 (34:50):
Case, yeah it's just a different, level, Right like sometimes
you'll you'll go to and youavn't are, qualifying and you
look at some of the, cars like The pency cars
are able to qualify with a lot more rear wing
than those at the back because wait a, second they're
running more downforce than, me but they're going. Faster, yes
it's kind of a you know that there's so much

(35:11):
efficiency in the gearbox and the and the way the
cars body fit and everything like that that, yes like
you're just it's still difficult for, sure because Now i've
been at like multiple different, levels Like I've i've been
on the last row, twice Like i've tried To i've
had to make it in you know multiple, times And
i've been on that. Side But i've also been you,
know we all like should have made the fast twelve

(35:32):
last year and like it, was it was, great but
it's just a different Le it doesn't it's still very
difficult for. ME i feel like on those four laps,
qualifying but it's it's you're in the window at, least
like you're you're you're you're fighting the car a little,
bit but you're in the, window which is.

Speaker 1 (35:51):
Nice, YEAH i guess that's a good way. Opening speaking of,
ovals you have had a foray Into nascar as.

Speaker 2 (35:59):
WELL i have.

Speaker 4 (36:02):
Just like, you you've done more.

Speaker 1 (36:04):
Have Ione i'm interested to, Know like do you love
it as much AS i love? IT i, mean now
we've both done sports car, racing IndyCar, RACING nascar, Racing
like what? EVERYTHING i Love IndyCar and the only five
hundred is in my blood And nascar is so fun
and it's new and it's a new challenge and LIKE

(36:24):
i feel Like i'm really good in a sports car
and so each of them have their own. Nuances but
do you have like a? Favorite like if you could
only do this is a good. Question it just came
into my. Head if you could only do one more
race in your, career and it couldn't be The indy five,
hundred what would it? Be?

Speaker 4 (36:48):
Wow, well for, me it's lamore BECAUSE i haven't done it.
Yet that's on my bucket. List so LIKE i that's
that's the highest one on my bucket. LISTS i got
to do them all NOW i THINK i, Will but
it's just it has to be, timing as we. Are
sports cars a wild world THAT i don't really fully understand,
yet BUT i would enjoy being a part of it.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
MORE i love it. Definitely it's.

Speaker 1 (37:07):
Different, again it's different because you have a teammate and
you have to make, compromises and it's a different camaraderie.

Speaker 2 (37:13):
If you've got good teammates and it's it's. AWESOME i
love it. TOO i love one of. Them they're all very.

Speaker 1 (37:17):
Different AND i also HAVE i want to drive A
v Eight, baptist one of those Bigger.

Speaker 4 (37:24):
That would be number two on the bucket list for.
Me it's.

Speaker 1 (37:29):
Incredible, yeah you are also wildly you, know not only
as an oval, specialist which Will i'm Gonna i'm gonna
start trend. Now you are like CAN i do like
weare a specialist as well on a road, sure.

Speaker 4 (37:43):
Just not an oval, guy, okay not that just drives
other things. TOO i don't know.

Speaker 2 (37:56):
Driver so.

Speaker 1 (37:57):
WELL i think you are renowned for being so versatile
and being able to jump into anything at any. Point
and to my, point that race At, IOWA i think
was you had just been cooled like the night before
to jump in that, car right like you hadn't even
driven it, before and you're just like go around.

Speaker 4 (38:11):
Race yeah, yeah, yeah oh. YEAH i slept In Alex
rossi's bus the night before BECAUSE i didn't have a
place to stay and and THEN i woke up the
next morning AND i, Raced, yeah until the engine blew. Up.

Speaker 1 (38:25):
Yeah So bighness so not only known as the awesome
road cost, racer but also one of the biggest hustlers
in the, paddock, Right Like you've always managed to create
relationships and find sponsors and hustle and make it. Work
and like to your point when your dad Said i'm
not going to manage you, anymore you made it. Happen,

(38:46):
yeah you're also known as one of the best tusslers
in the.

Speaker 2 (38:50):
Paddock so.

Speaker 1 (38:53):
Is there a correlation do you think between your personality
and the brand that you've Created connor to be in,
racing BECAUSE i can tell you before you answer, THAT
i can tell YOU i have a very well all
my opinions are very set in. STONE i GUESS i
need to be more. Adaptable BUT i think if you
look at modern day, racing especially the lights Of formula. One,

(39:15):
okay The Netflix.

Speaker 2 (39:17):
Drive To survive show has changed that a little.

Speaker 1 (39:19):
Bit but if you if you didn't have, that you
look at THE f one drivers and they'd be like, robots,
Right they're interchangeable. People you can plug and play and
they're good.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
Drivers they're all really good, drivers.

Speaker 1 (39:28):
But you don't see the same personalities like back in
your dad's day or back WHEN i was watching touring
cars In england in the nineties and the early two,
thousands like people had, personalities AND i think that then
companies could get behind those, personalities AND i think it
created a better environment for fans because the fans could
then either love you or hate, you just like mom.
Mate BUT i think that the drivers with personalities and

(39:55):
even like you look At Scott, dickson he's known As, iceman,
right like people who have that, brand and you have
definitely got. BRAND i think it's really. Important do you
think that has served you well developed been a part
of it or did it just kind of come naturally to?

Speaker 2 (40:13):
You or, like how how did that? Happen how Did
connor Become?

Speaker 4 (40:17):
Connor DON'T i don't actually. Know. HONESTLY i knew how
important sponsorship was and the business side of it pretty early,
on BECAUSE i had, to, like IF i didn't raise
thirty thousand dollars to do this test With Schmid peterson
in twenty fourth, FIFTEEN i was, Like i'm not going
to be raised. Forever SO i had to do it

(40:37):
and like and that was, it and SO i just
and it's not it's something THAT i really don't enjoy
doing BECAUSE i don't want to have to rely on other,
people LIKE i don't want to have to rely on other,
people LIKE i want to be able to do it.
Myself BUT i BUT i Love IndyCars so much THAT
i think my drive to get folks involved in this

(41:00):
or comes from how MUCH i believe that there are
so many fans and people that love the, Sport like
there are families that have been going to the five
hundred for eighty, years you, Know i've for, forever and
people that have passed down tickets for, generations and folks
that you know that work in the, sport that that
you know even still they're, like, oh we worked with

(41:21):
your dad and they're still you, know they're still in, it.
Right and it's it's it's a it's a sport that's
like a drug and in a non dangerous. Way well
the sport's, dangerous but like the drugs not. Dangerous it's
it's it's just it's it's such an, addiction but it's
such a wonderful sport THAT i honestly truly believe is still.

(41:43):
Underappreciated SO i the folks That i've brought to this,
Sport i'm like really proud, of you, know THE Us
Air force that was an incredible partnership THAT i was
so proud to carry for for several. Years, uh you,
know A m P m and Arc co gas stations
like those folks that have now been a part of
my program for last year and then into this year as.
Well like those are big. Companies these are not small.

(42:04):
Groups and even you, know Bringing Todd all into the
sport as well for the very first. Time obviously he's
involved With dale and and was with was WITH ecr
and you know Smith field was. ANOTHER i Mean i've
brought you, know some fairly large groups into the, game
And i'm really proud of it BECAUSE i JUST i
love sharing the sport with people and and IF i

(42:26):
can be an ambassador for, IT i know THAT i
can continue to fuel my love for this drug that is. Racing, Right,
like there's three hundred and sixty five days in the,
year and we will like if you're a full time indigar,
driver you get seventeen days of, racing Right like that's.
It you get seventeen days to fully lock in on
that that feeling of competing in some of the best

(42:47):
in the. World SO i truly can't wait for the
day to WHERE i don't have to make a call
to someone to be, like, Hey i've got this program
that we're trying to put together AND i need you,
know we got to figure out a way to make
it beneficial for, you BECAUSE i, YOU i truly, believe
AND i would be blown away if this actually. Happens
there is no one out, THERE i, think certainly an
IndyCar that is just like cold emailing or cold calling

(43:10):
anyone and, like, Hey i'd like to interest you in
some IndyCar. RACING i just don't think that happens. Anymore
like you have to meet, someone you have to you
have to get some sort of emotional connection with someone
in the, Company like you just have to create that
question of like maybe we should get involved in this like,
this like IF i have as much passion AS i

(43:30):
do for, it you, know maybe they can also sense
that and and that then generates business for. Them because
If i'm If i'm literally willing to do anything to
be in this car and figure out a way to
get these folks. Involved you, know it's not, like, hey
just put your name on the side of my. Car it's, like,
hey how AM i going to generate revenue for you?

(43:51):
Guys like how how AM i going to go to
whatever you want me to go? To? Events doesn't. Matter
how are we going to sell whatever you need to.
Sell it's not about just seeing the race. Card it's
about everything else business. Related it's about everything else that
you know goes along with it to make sure that
that investment is worth. It and you, know a lot
of these deals That i've put together have always been

(44:12):
multi year. Deals there's never been you, Know Mankind corporation
has been a sponsor of mine since twenty twenty or twenty.
Nineteen even they were on my IndyCar With andretti on
the front, wing and they were a primary for us
at three races last. Year they were a primary for
me in twenty twenty as, Well and it's just it's
continued to grow and it's in the Air force was three.

(44:35):
Years you, know we're going into year two WITH rco
AND a AND p like Ben nile was a couple
of years and they're obviously still involved With, Todd so
like you. Know I'M i just try to create the
desire For IndyCar THAT i have BECAUSE i think there's
so much that our sport is doing that's good and it's.
Growing it's like we are now in like we're not

(44:56):
falsely selling, Anything like we're up thirty PERCENT tv. Ratings
if you go to the races other THAN i was
sadly last, YEAR i was, tough but all the other,
RACES i, mean the energy is, astounding and the fan.
BASE a lot of young folks come to the, races
so it's very hard to. Sell and there are a
lot of people who are literally making a ton of
money more than me that get paid to do this

(45:18):
sponsorship stuff that aren't that aren't able to do it.
Yet BUT i hope that they. WILL i hope that
all those folks that are dedicated to, THAT i hope
that they will be able to sell this easier SO
i don't have.

Speaker 1 (45:31):
To BUT i think that you're. RIGHT i think that
passion and that authenticity delivers a great deal of value
to these, sponsors AND i think once they see that
and they see how to make a return on, it
then they're kind of sold and bought in and they get.
It it's not like putting your name on a basketball

(45:51):
court that's going around the.

Speaker 2 (45:53):
Top it's not the.

Speaker 1 (45:54):
Same it's like you have somebody to cheer, for and
it's like them against the. WORLD i think that's where
the personalities come into it as, well because anybody who's
A conna fan is going to purposefully go out of
their way to use the products that you have, endorsed right,
Exactly and SO i think it's a no. BRAINER i

(46:14):
think that it's it's sometimes tough to put a figure
and an R oi on like what that good will
is because take take The elf relationship for, example do
we know how many people bought More elf products because
they sponsored?

Speaker 2 (46:31):
Me, no we don't know.

Speaker 1 (46:32):
That some young girl In indy bought twelve lipsticks Because
elf was on my. Car but the fact That elf
fact the only girl in the race is, like it's worth.

Speaker 2 (46:45):
SOMETHING i just don't. Know.

Speaker 1 (46:46):
Absolutely they have to they have to be able to
put a figure on that, themselves and it could be
worth not much or it could be worth a whole heap,
ton AND i think it's worth a. Ton AND i
think that's where these companies like you mentioned that have
been partners of. YOURS i think it's very different when
you're invested in those companies as much as they're invested in.

(47:07):
You it's not just a name on the side of
a race. Card it's not just, oh REALLY i use
this oil or. Whatever it's like it's a genuine. Relationship
AND i think that, that coupled with longevity is their Reten.

Speaker 4 (47:20):
Yeah. Absolutely AND i think the one thing THAT i
say to young drivers all the time, too because because
everyone asks, like how are we going to raise this
money to do? That i'm, like, well you got to
sell the dream, First like you have to Sell like
if you're if you're fifteen sixteen trying to go racing,
cars you tell this guy or whoever you're, doing, like,
hey WHEN i win The indy five, hundred you're going

(47:42):
to get a ring AND i need a. Hundred like it's, like,
oh that's. Awesome Like I'm i'm definitely gonna do. That,
like but you have to do whatever it. Takes it doesn't,
matter you. Know that's why, drivers you, know Justin, wilson
the investment stuff Like Scott, dixon like they had people
and literally invest money in them that the drivers had
to pay. Back like that's p. Icotic IT'S i, mean
how are you supposed to ever make a? Living, well

(48:03):
they did eventually because they were good. Enough. RIGHT i
did the same. THING i, MEAN i had to get
a two hundred and ffy thousand dollars loan to do
The indy five hundred and twenty. Eighteen AND i didn't
want to do that BECAUSE i was not making two
hundred twy thousand. DOLLARS i was thinking. Zero but you
had to do it because you just don't know when
your next opportunity is going to come. About and you,

(48:25):
KNOW i feel it's very difficult to, sell it's very
difficult to do all these. Things BUT i have truly
appreciated the relationships That i've. CREATED i, Mean i'm just
sitting here looking at my helmets from the eighty five
hundreds in the, past and there are so many different
logos that we've put on. Them but it's just all
of those people have been incredible to work. WITH i

(48:46):
feel like there's friends to this day who don't even sponsor,
us but like it's, just, HEY i appreciate with everything
in my soul the fact that you were able to
help me do WHAT i dream of every, night which
is try to win the eighty five. Hundred so it's
it's it's a tough. Game but thankfully it's growing in our.
SPORTS i think in a great Spot, IndyCar on The

(49:07):
Indy car, side even IN nascar, Too like obviously you're
A nascar, driver you. Know, yeah it's IT'S i think
it's the sport in, general it's. Strong obviously we would
like it to continue to. Grow but boy is it
hard to fight against THE, nba of THE, nfl THE,
mlb you, know all THE, nhl all those. Things BUT
i feel like we're getting strong going for. It, yeah,

(49:27):
YEAH i do.

Speaker 1 (49:29):
So strange, question what's the what's the weirdest almost unexpected
sponsor pitch that you've ever had to? Make?

Speaker 4 (49:38):
Uh Probably depend after The indy five hundred WHEN i
peed myself this year last. Year gotta sell everything, though you,
know got to sell. Everything we had a great relationship
With depend for the rest of the. Season they were. Awesome,
uh they were on my, car on my. Helmet BUT
i don't. KNOW i, Mean i've pitched a lot of
different companies and companies that are probably not allowed to
be on The IndyCar either or. Anything but you got to.

(50:01):
Try and if you saw the amount of liveries That
i've got on my phone too of throughout the, years you,
know things that didn't work, out but you just have to,
try have to try all the.

Speaker 1 (50:12):
Time, yeah all, RIGHT i know that time is getting,
shot AND i really appreciate you coming. On you have
a special talent for podcasting as. WELL i must say
it's funny that because you have one of your. Own
i'm just going to do a couple of rapid fire.
Questions all, right favorite.

Speaker 4 (50:31):
Track and why this questions difficult because people want me
to come up with like a creative. Answer but it's
Just indie and road. Course It's, spa so, like, OK
i Love, spa But Indie indie the atmosphere and the.
Difficulty AND i honestly actually like The indie road course.
TOO i don't know if that's like a weird. THING
i love THE i love. It it's My for some,

(50:52):
REASON i always go really well. THERE i don't know,
why Like i'm able to get it AND i just love.
It but The indie the atmosphe, ye there's something about
the surface that is really unique there that's like really,
RIPPY i feel, like and just good to race on.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
Any special, though you drive in through the tunnel and
it's like it's a whole different, world and that's a
different vibe about, it SO i can understand.

Speaker 4 (51:18):
It, Yeah i've just not been anywhere else that provides
that type of like you, know goosebumps moments where you're,
like this is, insane like this is so cool to be.
Here and you just see in other people's faces, Too
like IF i bring new people to the five hundred
every year That i've never, been and you just see
it in their faces, Too you're, like this is. Wild

(51:40):
But spa when it, LIKE i got to raise His spa,
obviously WHEN i was doing The European landscape Of, motorsport.

Speaker 2 (51:47):
Which a rouge did you? Have did you have the gravelly?
One did you have the windy? One or did you
have the one that's now old tarmac and pretty?

Speaker 4 (51:54):
Straight, no it was Still this was twenty, eleven twelve
and thirteen, fourteen.

Speaker 2 (52:00):
So, okay so it was, tarmac but it was still
a big.

Speaker 4 (52:03):
Challenge oh, yeah, yeah no it. Was is it not
a challenge?

Speaker 2 (52:07):
ANYMORE i feel like they've straightened it.

Speaker 1 (52:10):
OUT i did it whack a couple of years ago
and it's like easy flat now so that's a.

Speaker 4 (52:14):
Shame, yeah, no it. Was it's just such an awesome.
TRACK i mean just to race. On even LIKE f
three cars were, like weren't that. Fast it was a
great race. TRACK i got more podiums there THAN i
ever did it anywhere else in that Three so LIKE
i loved. It but even like THE gb two car,
was you, know that was like that was a fast,
car you, know six hundred horse. Pride that thing flat

(52:35):
up in a rouge in the wet like it was
like damp for the race. There oh, god that was.
Awesome an amazing circuit in.

Speaker 2 (52:42):
General, yeah, NO i, AGREE i LOVE i love.

Speaker 4 (52:45):
It spotty, Okay hardest driver to, race hardest driver to,
race like as in not a good person or, no,
no we're not going to go. That i'm not gonna,
race like will?

Speaker 1 (53:00):
You yeah, No like you're it's you and one other
driver and you've got a gap and it's to win the,
race and you're, like oh, shit it's Will oh, shit It's, Coulton, like,
oh this is gonna be the.

Speaker 4 (53:15):
Toughest it's a great. QUESTION i Noticed Alex palau did
something this year WHEN i was oddly. Enough it doesn't
sound LIKE i, would BUT i spent a lot of
time racing in him on the, ovals and he he
is not like he is not an oval guy, right
like he wanted to become an oval. Guy like he's

(53:35):
now obviously an oval winner and five hundred chavon all that.
Stuff but he did some things At iowa and that
THAT i JUST i was, like this, guy he knows
exactly Where i'm going to go and and knows exactly
WHAT i want to. Do and it wasn't like driving
like a, dick but like he just knew WHERE i

(53:55):
was faster and he would place his car in that
exact right. Spot and he's just very. Smart SO i
think without being you, know like someone who's going to
put you in the, wall he's just really smart and
he just knows exactly where he needs to be when
he needs to be. There and that's been, TOUGH i

(54:16):
would say to. See but other than, THAT i don't.
KNOW i, Mean alex blows the easy answers because he's
the best of the best right. Now but, Yeah I'm
i'm not sure that's probably the easiest answer to go.
With i'd say just because of What i've seen like.
That there was a couple of moments this year WHERE
i just kind of like smirked. Him i'm, like that's
son of a. Gun that's.

Speaker 2 (54:38):
Good that's. Good kitos To.

Speaker 1 (54:40):
Alex what is one thing that fans would be shocked
to know about IndyCar?

Speaker 4 (54:45):
LIFE i think the easiest thing is that we're not
all rich and. FAMOUS i think that's THE i think
there are so many people that like just assume that
we are sitting on, like because the most frequently asked
question THAT i get is like what car you drive
on the, Road like it's got to be, Crazy And i'm,
like you guys have no, Idea like there's you, know
only a small number of people that are like making seven,

(55:08):
figures if anything high six, figures you know WHAT i.
Mean SO i think that is like we're just out
here grind and trying to pay bills, too you know
WHAT i, Mean like we do need more of that superstar,
Factor LIKE i wish that we were you, know we
had those graphics that they're doing With formula one where
they're listing their salaries all the drivers and you're, like,
dang that's. Crazy those are all above ten million. Dollars that's,

(55:29):
wild but we're not there. Yet now there are some
cool articles that come out when you're, like oh, dang
Like Colton hurd above seven million, dollars and then when
you saw the, lawsuits the McLaren, lawsuit you had all
the McLaren driver salaries that were out in, public and you're,
like oh, dang all, right those guys are making a
couple of. Million but, like that's. Good that's good for,
us it's good for the, sport And i'm glad and

(55:51):
and someday we'll get. There but THAT'S i think the
most common misconception is like that most of us are
just out, here you, know of, it on gold plates
and swimming with dolphins in our backyard or something like.

Speaker 2 (56:06):
That, yeah that would be, Nice. CONNOR i could talk
to you all. Day we might have to do a part.

Speaker 1 (56:12):
Two thank you so much for coming on the pod
and talking to us and whatever twenty twenty six. BRINGS
i wish you all the best and all the luck
in the, world AND i hope THAT i will see
you at the end of five hundred And i'm working
on it AND i know r t.

Speaker 4 (56:26):
Oh, YEAH i. HOPE i hope to see you. There as.

Speaker 2 (56:29):
Well thanks for listening to Throttle.

Speaker 1 (56:34):
Therapy we'll be back next week with more updates and more.

Speaker 2 (56:38):
Overtakes we want to hear from.

Speaker 1 (56:39):
You leave us a review In Apple podcasts and tell
us what you want to talk. About it might just
be the topic for our next. Show Throttle therapy is
hosted By Katherine. Legg our executive producer Is Jesse, katz
and our supervising producer Is Grace. Fus listen To Throttle
therapy On america's number one podcast, Network Hi. Heart open

(57:01):
your Free iHeart app and search Throttle therapy With catherine
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Speaker 2 (57:05):
Listening