INDIANAPOLIS — Ed Carpenter Racing announced today that the team and Conor Daly have mutually agreed to end their relationship, effective immediately.

“This is the most difficult decision I have made as a team owner because I respect Conor (Daly) and know what he means to INDYCAR and its fans,” Ed Carpenter said. “Our team has not been performing at the level we are capable of this year, and despite making technical changes and investments in the offseason, 2023 has been extremely challenging. 

“I have put a great deal of consideration into the current state of our team and realize it is my obligation to our employees, partners, and supporters to do whatever is necessary to elevate our team’s competitiveness. We sincerely wish Conor continued success and will cheer him on wherever he goes next.”

From what that sounds like, maybe they think this is on Daly for not performing. However, Daly felt on Media Day for the Indianapolis 500 a few weeks ago, that the gap between he and his teammate wasn’t far off.

“I mean, honestly, you don’t forget how to drive,” Daly said then. “I think Rinus (VeeKay) didn’t forget how to drive. He’s still race winner and pole sitter. He’s very, very talented at what he does and he’s struggled you know, just as much as we have. He’s done a little bit better in a couple places, but we’ve also had things you know, go very wrong and a couple different races this year.

“So I don’t think it’s, you know, if I was very, very much on an island and Rinus was in the top 10 in the championship, I’d be very upset with myself. It’s been a very difficult situation.”

Daly sits 20th in points after the first seven races. His teammate, Rinus VeeKay, sits 15th. Daly said the biggest issue with the team at that point was mechanical grip and that’s the department to where they were lacking.

What’s also odd is the fact that Daly has placed higher than VeeKay in 4 of the 7 races (St. Pete, Long Beach, Indianapolis 500, Detroit). VeeKay has qualified better than Daly in 6 of the 7 though, but Sunday’s pay points and money and Daly has been ahead more times than not in 2023.

“Although we’ve mutually decided that it’s in our best interests to take different paths, I’d like to thank ECR for the past three and a half seasons,” said Daly. “I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me – past, present and into the future. I look forward to taking on the next opportunities that await, and I want to thank the fans for being with me on this ride.”

Another factor here is the fact that it says both cars (No. 20, No. 21) will continue on full-time and both are “BITILE.COM” Chevrolet’s. Same for Carpenter’s No. 33 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet.

According to the release, information regarding the driver of the No. 20 BITNILE.COM Chevrolet for the upcoming event at Road America will be released in due course. 

Seems like a Zach Veach and Andretti Autosport situation on the surface. Veech brought Gainbridge to Andretti and once his contract ran out, he was out and Gainbridge stayed. Not saying this is the same situation, but also we don’t truly know either if it’s not.