---
title: "Conor Daly Retains Harding Seat for IndyCar Mid-Ohio Race"
description: "Conor Daly will remain behind the wheel for the Mid-Ohio IndyCar race, following taking over from Gabby Chaves for the Toronto GP."
date: "2018-07-24"
modified: "2018-07-24"
authors:
  - name: "Daan de Geus"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/daan-de-geus"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22358/conor-daly-retains-harding-seat-for-indycar-mid-ohio-race"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Accelerator"
  - "Conor Daly"
  - "Gabby Chaves"
  - "Harding Racing"
  - "Indycar Series"
---

# Conor Daly Retains Harding Seat for IndyCar Mid-Ohio Race

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/ripshaub_2018_indycar_chavez_longbeach-3-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Harding Racing confirmed on Monday that [Conor Daly](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/3719/conor-daly-is-the-bro-racing-needs>) will be back behind the wheel of its Dallara/Chevrolet at this weekend's Mid-Ohio IndyCar race, following [Daly taking over the No. 88 car from Gabby Chaves for the mid-July Honda Indy Toronto Grand Prix](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22072/indycar-daly-to-replace-chaves-at-toronto-amidst-harding-team-changes>).

Harding elected to replace Chaves with Daly for the Canadian round as part of its process of evaluating candidates for its 2019 lineup as it weighs its options of expanding to two cars next season. Daly subsequently qualified in eleventh and finished thirteenth in Toronto, which is Harding's best result of the season. The Noblesville, Indiana born driver further took part in testing at Mid-Ohio for Harding.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1021740278728847360

"After the progress made during the Toronto race weekend, we had another successful outing in Mid-Ohio with Conor Daly. Based on that and in the interest of continuity moving forward, we are going to run Conor again this weekend for the Honda Indy 200", said Harding Racing Team President Brian Barnhart [in a statement](<https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Conor-Daly-will-Drive-for-Harding-Racing-at-the-Honda-Indy-200-.html?soid=1129474139587&aid=WPx7W804gy0>).

![message-editor%2F1532442556133-ripshaub\_2018\_imsaindy\_chavez\_glen-8.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1532442556133-ripshaub_2018_imsaindy_chavez_glen-8.jpg>)
*Chaves is still under contract to race with Harding in 2019., *© 2018 RIP SHAUB. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED**

![message-editor%2F1532442602614-ripshaub\_2018\_imsaindy\_chavez\_glen-7.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1532442602614-ripshaub_2018_imsaindy_chavez_glen-7.jpg>)
*© 2018 RIP SHAUB. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED*

![message-editor%2F1532442615502-ripshaub\_2018\_imsaindy\_chavez\_glen-6.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1532442615502-ripshaub_2018_imsaindy_chavez_glen-6.jpg>)
*© 2018 RIP SHAUB. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED*

Barnhart emphasized the decision to keep Daly in the car is part of the team's "search for more information and improvement" with regard to the future. Despite Chaves not being in the Harding Racing entr for the second race in succession, Barnhart praised the Colombian for his continued "cooperation and interaction" as Chaves remains involved with the team trackside.

![message-editor%2F1532442658455-ripshaub\_2018\_\_indy\_spotterguide-131.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1532442658455-ripshaub_2018__indy_spotterguide-131.jpg>)
*Daly competing with Dayle Coyne Racing at the 2018 Indianapolis 500., *© 2018 RIP SHAUB. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED**

Harding Racing stated Chaves, 25, is "still under contract for the remainder of this year and in 2019" when it moved him aside for the Toronto round. Prior to stepping in for Chaves at Harding, Daly took part in [this year's Indy 500](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21131/will-power-and-team-penske-win-the-scorching-hot-2018-indy-500>) with a Dale Coyne Racing entry. Daly made his IndyCar début in 2013. He has since totaled 41 races with Coyne, Schmidt Peterson, Foyt and now Harding, with a best-placed finish of second.

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