'You just have to experience it' - Ricciardo impressed with first Indy 500 experience

Former Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo says his trip to the Indianapolis 500 to support Conor Daly was a special experience that is hard to describe.

Daly started eighth and finished 12th at the speedway in what was his first IndyCar appearance this season. The Dreyer & Reinbold Racing driver received backing from Ricciardo’s clothing brand Enchanté, which collaborated with Daly on a collection for the 500, leading to Ricciardo – who last raced in F1 in September 2024 – attending the race for the first time and documenting his excitement in a post-event newsletter.

“Looking back on the weekend, it was such a cool experience,” Ricciardo wrote. “And let me remind you, I’ve been all over the world doing this my whole life. But something about Indy was really amazing. Every neighborhood I drove past had Indy 500 flags and checkered flags hanging off the front porch. It kinda feels like the local sporting team has made the final or something. Everyone just gets behind it.

“I asked Conor on race day what he does before the race to lock in and shut out the distractions and the noise. He said, ‘Man, this is the biggest and coolest thing I’ll ever do in my life, why would I not want to hear every noise and every cheer? I don’t want to be listening to music. I want to see, hear and feel everything.’

“Was cool to see it from that side. And being on the grid, seeing tears in the drivers’ eyes after the prayer and the anthem, I was like dammit, let’s f***ing goooo! Haha, you just have to experience it. The race is something more than just a race. Hard to put into words.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Ricciardo, who has previously admitted that racing on ovals scares him, suggested he would be looking to return in a similar capacity next year, saying his enjoyment largely stemmed from not having to go out on track and deliver a result himself.

“Conor and I have been friends for close to 15 years, going back to when we were both chasing the European racing dream from opposite sides of the world,” he said. “So to be there, finally, as a fan watching him race in his hometown, was pretty special. It’s kinda fun when the pressure isn’t on you. Being a fan again brings me back to childhood feelings and memories. I like it.”