Daly secures 2018 Indy 500 drive 

Conor Daly will contest the 2018 Indianapolis 500 in a Thom Burns Racing-backed entry for Dale Coyne Racing in partnership with the United States Air Force. 

Daly lost his full-time IndyCar seat with A. J. Foyt Enterprises for 2018, with Foyt dropping Daly in favour of Brazilian drivers Tony Kanaan and Matheus Leist, who claimed the final available full-time season seats for the 2018 season. 

That left Daly facing a year on the sidelines, but the former GP3 and GP2 racer has secured a deal to race at this year’s Indy 500 in the #17 entry with the Dale Coyne Racing outfit he contested the 2016 IndyCar season with. 

Daly becomes Dale Coyne’s third confirmed entry for the 102nd running of the Indy 500 on May 27, which will mark a fifth career start for the 26-year-old American, who finished a best 22nd place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year. 

"We're very happy to have Conor Daly back with us for the Indy 500," Dale Coyne Racing team owner Dale Coyne said. "Conor has done a great job for us in the past and we hope to continue that this year at IMS. 

“We also very much look forward to working with Thom Burns Racing and we're extremely pleased and honored to be partnered and representing the United States Air Force.”

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to represent the Air Force at the Indianapolis 500," Daly added. "Memorial Day Weekend is an incredible time of appreciation for those who serve our country. 

“I can't thank Dale Coyne enough for having me back on the team and Thom Burns enough for bringing this program together with the Air Force to give us a fighting chance at the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

"In conjunction with an incredible team of people at Dale Coyne Racing that I've had the pleasure of working with before, I think we will have a great opportunity to shine."