Conor Daly, driver of the No. 18 Jonathan Byrd Hospitality/Cancer Treatment Center of America Honda for Dale Coyne Racing, had a remarkable weekend for the Chevrolet Duals in Detroit at Raceway at Bell Isle Park.
On June 4th, Daly started in the 16th position but quickly found his way to the front of the pack because of good pit strategy from his owner and strategist Dale Coyne. On Lap 58, Daly took the lead of the race and led four laps before coming onto pit road. He had a good quick stop where he only got a splash of fuel and came off pit road ahead of Helio Castroneves in the second position. Daly finished the race in second and was awarded the first podium of his IndyCar Series season and career.
On June 5, Daly’s qualifying effort for the second race didn’t go as planned, as penalty during his session relegated him to the 21st starting spot. Though once the green flag dropped for the race, he charged to the front, thanks again to good pit strategy from Coyne. Daly finished the race in the sixth position, recording his second top-10 finish of the season.
“Again, we charged from the back, it goes to show that we’ve got a great car and this Honda Joanthan Byrd’s/ Cancer Treatment Center of America machine is good for racing, it’s just that I hate to be made to start so far back,” Daly quoted. “Makes you think what could’ve been. All in all, a great weekend just for points, just to get back on the board after the disaster at Indy so a nice bit of momentum going to Texas.”