INDYCAR: Daly at the crossroads

Coming off a strong rookie season with Dale Coyne Racing, Conor Daly has spent the last month pushing for another opportunity in the Verizon IndyCar Series. A return to DCR is a possibility, and he's also in the frame for drives with AJ Foyt Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing, but the Hoosier doesn't expect to relax until his name is on a new contract.

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"I've been looking at the offseason and where I am in it right now and have been trying to stay positive about my chances," the 24-year-old told RACER. "I think any driver without a contract feels frustrated, so it's just a case of managing the process and continuing to talk to teams to see what we can develop for next year. This might be the hardest time ever – certainly that I've seen – for young drivers to get their foot in the door and stay in IndyCar without bringing a lot of money to give to a team."

Daly points to the multi-year contract his former Indy Lights teammate Josef Newgarden signed when he entered the series in 2012 as the perfect scenario for a rookie. It seems hard to fathom today, but Newgarden's first year in IndyCar with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing gave no indication he would drive for Roger Penske in the future.

Piloting the No. 67 Honda, Newgarden never cracked the top 10, finished 15th or worse in 10 races, and placed a lowly 23rd in the championship – one spot ahead of Simona de Silvestro in her Lotus-powered HVM entry. Thanks to the length of his contract, Newgarden then turned his educational rookie campaign into a vastly improved 2013 season where he finished 14th in the standings, scored his first podium, and caught the attention of his new boss.

Daly, who also spent his rookie season driving for a small Honda-powered team, had similar results in one regard by placing 18th in the standings – ahead of fellow rookie Max Chilton and Foyt's Jack Hawksworth. The key difference compared to Newgarden's debut is Daly's four finishes inside the top six and one podium.

By the numbers, Daly appears to be ahead of the curve and wants a chance to prove it.

"I had a one-year contract with Dale Coyne and I'd really like to find an opportunity like my friend Josef had when he arrived in IndyCar," he said. "It really was the perfect contract. Sarah Fisher and Wink Hartman signed him for multiple years. It gave him a chance to develop in the same environment – he had stability to bank on and ran with it.

"You look at where he is now with Penske, and you have to give credit to how Sarah and Wink went about giving Josef a platform to grow into where he is today. If it was just one year for him, or me, or any young driver coming up, it's super-tough to demonstrate all you can do. It's a two- or three-year process, and that's what I'm hoping to have. I thought the year went well and want to get back and use that experience because it really counts in IndyCar."

Daly says he will continue pushing to secure a new (or familiar) home in IndyCar for 2017, and continues to root for other young drivers in a similar position.

"The door is definitely not closed at Coyne and there are a lot of smart people there who are going to help the team make big strides," he added. "Rejoining Dale's team would be fantastic, but there's a big sponsorship ask and need. I'm trying to help there, but I'm talking with other team owners; I have a good relationship with Ed Carpenter, Larry and A.J. Foyt, and have been talking with everyone. I'm going after everything out there and have to wait to see how it plays out.

"I want to see Spencer [Pigot], RC [Enerson], and myself back full-time. IndyCar has a lot of talented young guys, young Americans, and there would be nothing better than if we can all continue together next year."