Conor Daly returns to MSR IndyCar seat at Iowa, Pagenaud still out

Daly, 31, drove the Honda-powered #60 AutoNation/SiriusXM-backed car at Mid-Ohio after Pagenaud suffered a huge crash in practice. Daly finished 20^th, ahead of team-mate Helio Castroneves.

Following further evaluation, Pagenaud has still not been cleared by IndyCar’s medical team due to concussion-like symptoms.

“I’m thankful to Mike and Jim to calling me up to fill in for Simon again this weekend in Iowa,” said Daly. “Obviously I’m wishing him the best and hope that he gets well soon.”

Last weekend in Toronto, MSR recruited its IMSA SportsCar Championship-winning driver Tom Blomqvist to sub for Pagenaud, but the Brit was taken out in a first-corner crash.

Daly heads into the Iowa weekend with seven race starts at the 0.875-mile tri-oval. It was the site of his first-ever IndyCar pole position in 2020 for the Carlin team. He lost his full-time ride with the Ed Carpenter Racing team earlier in the season.

Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

Photo by: Richard Dole / Motorsport Images

“Iowa has definitely become one of my favourite tracks in the last couple of years,” Daly added. “Obviously I have qualified really well there – qualified on the pole and started in the top three the last two years. Hopefully we can replicate that qualifying performance, but also deliver in the race.

“The team does an incredible job to prepare the car, so we’re going to do our best for Simon again. We’ll do everything we can to score some more points for the team and I’m thankful to drive this #60 car again for AutoNation and SiriusXm.”

Pagenaud issued a short statement on his situation on social media.

He wrote: "With the care and recommendation of the IndyCar medical team who has been tremendous through this process, I have not been cleared to race Iowa.

"I am working hard to get back to 100% and I hope to return to competition soon.

"Thank you for the continued support."