Noblesville native Conor Daly feeling fast ahead of qualifying weekend INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Noblesville native Conor Daly aims to make his 13th start in the Indianapolis 500. This year, he joins the Dreyer Reinbold Racing team to run just the Indy 500 this season, and he’s happy with the c ar. “We feel really good so far. It’s been a really good week, but we’re taking it one day at a time,” Daly said. Daly’s yet to win his hometown race, but he’s been close. He’s led 82 laps in his career — 13 last year. “Honestly, so thankful for the experience that I’ve got. I think it helps so much,” Daly said. “I think it really does build my confidence. But I’m still learning every day on track, and that’s what’s this race is all about. It’s so challenging. It’s so difficult. Every year it’s even harder, it feels like.” Daly has the speed once again. He’s been consistently at the top of the speed chart during practice this week ahead of the weekend’s qualifying — and the other drivers are noticing. “It does feel good that people might also notice that it is going pretty well for us so far,” Daly said with a big smile. “We’ve got to keep our heads on straight through, and we’re just really happy to be here in this group.” “He’s the oldest friend I have in racing,” two-time Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden said. “When I started racing karts, he’s the first person that I met… So, we’ve been racing a long time. It’s fun to race at the speedway here. I mean, who would have thought, you know? It’s a very rare opportunity to race cars around this place so it’s always nice to see him, and we’re still going for it. We’re going for it like we were 22 years ago.” The greater Indianapolis area feels like home to many of the drivers in this year’s Indy 500, but none of them can say they were born here besides Daly. Daly’s roots at the track run deep. His dad Derek raced in six Indy 500s during his career. IMS and IndyCar president Doug Boles is also his stepdad. Boles says he loves seeing him race around the oval. “Watching him lead at the Indy 500 is some of the most magical moments as a stepdad that you could see,” Boles said. “The last time Conor led the 500, I was actually checking in on Roger Penske who was up on the roof. As we stood there and talked, Conor actually took the lead down the front stretch and Roger looked at me and said, ‘That’s your boy!’ It was kind of cool. It was a special moment.” “Indy’s always felt like a second home to me, but it’s not my home. It’s Conor’s home, and it’s great to see the support,” Newgarden said. “Hoosiers are passionate. The crowd cheers when Conor’s out front as they should. I can’t even imagine, if he wins this thing, this place is going to go nuts. Absolutely nuts.” Maybe race No. 13 will finally be his lucky number. ...read more read less