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Inside the Juncos situation: Canapino, Daly and IndyCar future

Writer's picture: Archie O’ReillyArchie O’Reilly

Updated: Jan 6

Written by Archie O’Reilly


Credit: Joe Skibinski
Credit: Joe Skibinski

The Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) team finds itself in an uncertain position at present. 


Romain Grosjean has impressed on one side of the garage in 2024, but the sister No.78 Chevy sits precariously outside of the Leaders’ Circle heading into the home stretch of the IndyCar season. Given the financial value of Leaders’ Circle contracts to lower-funded teams such as JHR, the team has had to instigate a late-season change.


They took the decision to “mutually and amicably” part ways with Agustin Canapino last week, drawing to a close a 28-race stint in IndyCar spanning back to the start of the 2023 season. And with four of the upcoming final five rounds of the season on ovals, they have turned to series veteran Conor Daly to complete the season in the No.78 entry.


With five points to currently claw back to re-enter the Leaders’ Circle positions, here is a look at why a change was made, the decision to turn to Daly and the future of JHR…


A tough Canapino decision for Juncos


“That was my guy,” team co-owner Ricardo Juncos said, dialling into a media call on Wednesday. 


It was Juncos who was integral to compatriot Canapino moving over to IndyCar in the first place, switching from a successful touring car background in his native Argentina. Canapino had no open-wheel experience despite his pedigree as a multi-time champion in the touring car realm and being somewhat of a national hero back home.


He impressed as an IndyCar rookie, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year standings and finishing a race-best of 12th on three occasions in his debut season. But his sophomore year has been turbulent, with only two finishes out of the 20s since the first two rounds of the season. 


Canapino also missed the race at Road America in the wake of social media troubles surrounding abuse directed from his fans towards Arrow McLaren’s Theo Pourchaire after a minor collision in Detroit. Qualifying 10th for the most recent two races - at Iowa Speedway and in Toronto - was impressive but incidents in each race showed issues with execution.


Credit: Chris Jones
Credit: Chris Jones

“I think it is a little bit of everything,” Juncos said of the decision to part ways with Canapino, who is returning to his homeland’s touring car championship. “It is not just one thing alone. We analyse all the situation with the group, Agustin included. We made the best decision for everyone. 


“We chose him [outside] of open-wheel, was a big challenge, crazy move. I think when you see what he did last year, it was really, really good - surprised a lot of people.”


It was uncertain whether Canapino would return for the 2024 season. A possible exhibition race for IndyCar in Argentina fell through due to a difficult financial situation - an issue that also threatened to jeopardise a return for Canapino. The decision was taken for him to be back in the entry again but the financial situation has still been uncertain.


“Knowing the situation in our country, in Argentina, where he came from, is tough, we took the risk again based on his performance for this year,” Juncos added. “I think he did an excellent job considering the situation, not just on the sporting side, meaning that he never race in an open-wheel, now here he is in IndyCar. 


“Also coming from a totally different country, culture, language, everything else that he need to adapt. I think he did an outstanding job. Obviously the results on this year were not the results we were hoping for. But I’m always going to be thankful for his opportunity and the big chances that he took. 


“We did it together. We did things that in the history of motor racing in Argentina never happened. Like two times [starting the] Indy 500, not something that happens often. In Argentina - more than 87 years - that didn’t happen in a country that has passion about motor racing. For our country, that was huge. 


“I think this is about life and this is about things moving forward, learn from things. That’s why I keep saying we try something, I am always going to be happy about it. There is nothing worse than not trying things in life. It was an honour to have him.”


Credit: James Black
Credit: James Black

A call-up close to Daly’s roots


The decision for JHR to turn to Daly as Canapino’s replacement makes a lot of sense. Since losing his full-time drive at Ed Carpenter Racing after seven rounds in 2023, he has been called upon by four teams on a substitute basis on ovals, as well as Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (DRR) in the Indianapolis 500.


Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) turned to him for Iowa last year in Simon Pagenaud’s absence, followed by a World Wide Technology Raceway outing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL). Dale Coyne Racing fielded him in the second Iowa race last month with Jack Harvey struggling physically, with JHR the latest to acquire his services.


And while it is a new and 11th IndyCar team for Daly, it is a return to Juncos’ team after a championship win together in the 2010 Star Mazda season. 


“It is a welcome back,” Juncos said. “I remember Conor maybe in 2003 go-kart time, then in Indy Pro 2010, one of our best championships ever. I think together we have a lot of good things. Now he’s kind of coming back obviously many years later. Conor obviously has a lot of experience in IndyCar. 


“He also worked before with some of my technical guys and engineers in the past when he ran for Carlin. I think the combination can be quite a good thing to see.”


Three successive top-10 finishes in the Indy 500, as well as highlights such as an Iowa pole with the Carlin team, outline Daly’s oval pedigree. He is a trustworthy option in Juncos’ eyes.


“Even if it’s true that we have options, I think Conor first of all was one of my guys,” Juncos said. “We have a history together. He did really good things when you see what he was able to do [with] different teams. It’s obvious he’s very good. 


“I remember when he was doing Indy Lights, he was leading the championship when he decided to go to Europe. He was beating Josef Newgarden. He’s one of the good ones. I never have a doubt on him. Never.”


Credit: Chris Owens
Credit: Chris Owens

How big is this opportunity for Daly?


Daly is acutely aware of the task at hand, needing to qualify the No.78 Chevy for the Leaders’ Circle. And he is grateful for the chance to return to some more consistent IndyCar involvement for the closing run of races in 2024.


“Honestly, this is a huge deal for me because I appreciate the fact that Ricardo committed to, if we really want to score the points that we want to score, do as good as we can do, to get some races in a row is really helpful,” Daly said. “To be able to work with the team, to be able to test a couple weeks ago at St. Louis was really helpful. 


“Obviously I’m still extremely new to the whole hybrid side of it. At Portland, that will definitely be more in play for sure, so that will be a challenge. I think this is going to be a great situation purely because of the familiar faces that are there, even Alan McDonald, who was there at my very first IndyCar street race at Schmidt Peterson back in the day.”


Daly’s career has been somewhat of a whirlwind of instability, hence his involvement spanning over a number of teams that expands into double figures.


“If you followed my career, it’s been quite a tornado - there’s a new Twisters movie out,” Daly said. But it’s been crazy, it’s been up and down. I think when it’s been up, I’m very, very proud of it. When it’s been tough, there’s always things that either I will take responsibility for or I will understand why. 


“I’m not at the young end of my IndyCar career. I have so much that I want to do. I have so much that we train every day for, for these chances to come about. Even if it was one race, I would go about it the same way. But this is an opportunity to go and find success together.


“This team is right on the verge of getting trophies and bringing home some champagne. I would love to be the guy to do that.”


Credit: Joe Skibinski
Credit: Joe Skibinski

Daly is excited for “the most consistent opportunity” he has had since exiting full-time IndyCar competition. He earmarked the MSR shot last year as being particularly noteworthy, albeit “very short-lived”. With JHR, he has tested and will have the chance to visit the simulator and prepare properly for the upcoming races.


By now, Daly is used to the lack of clarity month by month and often week by week. In addition to his few IndyCar outings, he has spent 2024 dabbling in the NASCAR ladder, ranging from ARCA to the Truck Series and Xfinity Series, as well as gearing up for some sports car racing. 


“It’s definitely been an interesting year,” he said. “From the months of last September till the beginning of May, I did more NBA All-Star Games than I did IndyCar races. “Now I get to do six weeks in a row in racing in essentially three different series all the way to the end of September with our last Truck race. 


“This is what I do, though. I try to work hard just providing myself opportunities. I want to be involved in a competitive situation. This happened to come up. Obviously I want to be as competitive as possible for Ricardo, for this team. There’s points to score that need to be scored. I want to be that guy. I think with this group for sure it’s highly possible. 


“It’s been chaotic this year. There’s been not a tonne of races but really good moments from the 500 to Xfinity race at Indy. There’s been a lot of times where I’ve actually had a big smile on my face this year, which is nice. This kind of restores that same smile because it’s a great chance to just go racing in a field that I love to be a part of but also love to be competitive in.”


After this period, uncertainty may reign again. But it is another opportunity for Daly to prove he can be more than just a ‘super sub’.


“I’m excited but my life exists for the next six weeks, then who knows what happens?” he said. “That is the way I’ve had to live.”


Credit: Travis Hinkle
Credit: Travis Hinkle

The near and long-term future of JHR 


The immediate priority for JHR is securing Leaders’ Circle money from both cars. Grosjean is 16th in points with five top-10 finishes in 12 races, meaning he is securely inside the top 22 in entrant points (subtracting two ineligible Chip Ganassi Racing entries). But Daly has to get the No.78 Chevy over the line, as he helped with in RLL’s No.30 Honda in 2023.


“Realistically I know points are the most important thing,” Daly said. “We want to fight at the front, but I think I would have to probably reduce the risk overall because points are most important… I don’t like setting expectations because I truly don’t know enough about us as a group yet until we get into a race or two, then I’ll figure it out.”


Grosjean tweeted that he is looking forward to having Daly as a teammate on ovals, to which the latter quipped: “Hopefully I’m some assistance at Portland too.”


The pair have shared a good relationship since Grosjean moved to IndyCar from Formula 1 in 2021. They shared a dinner in the early stages of the French driver living in the United States and now get to share the track as teammates.


“We definitely, at the test, pushed each other run by run,” Daly said. “One run I’m fastest, then he goes faster, then I go faster, he goes faster. It’s nice to just go to work like that.”


Beyond the end of the season, there is nothing to suggest a change is warranted in terms of the No.77 Chevy given Grosjean’s strong first season at JHR. But the second entry is open, with Juncos confirming discussions with the entourage of Grosjean’s former Andretti Global teammate Devlin DeFrancesco.


There have also been reports that the DeFrancesco family could also have involvement that extends to the team’s ownership alongside Juncos and Brad Hollinger to aid the team’s financial situation. There was not a firm denial of options being assessed, as such. 


Credit: Joe Skibinski
Credit: Joe Skibinski

“I hear the rumour,” Juncos said. “It is a rumour. IndyCar is in a good space, generally speaking. A lot of good things are happening and will happen for the next year, two or three. You see a lot of intentions of new teams coming in - I think it was about four to five teams willing to join IndyCar, as far as I know from rumours. 


“I only can say that, on our side, all is still the same. As of now, I’m not, with Brad Hollinger, doing anything. Of course, we have different options and different people that are approaching us. You mentioned DeFrancesco is one of those. 


“We have an NDA with all of them. Because of that, I have to follow the rules and stuff like that. For the moment, nothing has been said to anyone. As of now, the programmes we set from 2021, as we said before, we are executing. Right now I can tell you just rumours, like many others, but nothing is set yet.”

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