‘Never in my life’: Conor Daly had to race the entire Indy 500 covered in urine — and his reaction says everything

Conor Daly‘s performance in the 2025 NASCAR Indianapolis 500 will be remembered not only for his strong eighth-place finish but also for an unexpected and widely talked-about bathroom incident. A rain delay lasting nearly an hour before the race began forced drivers to stay in their cars, leaving Daly with no choice but to find an unconventional solution to a personal emergency.

He ended up urinating in his car, a fact he later shared at the victory banquet, much to the amusement (and probably slight disgust) of the crowd. TMZ reported that he said, “Never in my life have I urinated in my car until Sunday. I was sitting on the grid, and I was like, ‘This is the best car I’ve ever been in in my whole life. I’m gonna have to pee in this thing.’ I kid you not. I legitimately urinated in my racecar before the race even started.”

The delay pushed back the race start by about 45 minutes, leaving drivers stuck in their cockpits on the grid with no way to leave for bathroom breaks or other needs. This situation was especially tough for Daly, who realized he couldn’t hold it for the entire wait. He openly admitted to relieving himself in the car before the race even started.

Conor Daly had to pee himself during his race

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of people having to urinate in strange places, but this one sounds understandable. He later explained that it was purely due to urgency, not nerves or any medical issue, though he joked that age or diabetes might have played a role, teasingly referencing fellow driver Helio Castroneves’s long career.

Daly’s confession was met with both laughter and surprise. He told the story with a sense of humor, poking fun at himself and acknowledging the absurdity of the situation. The full picture of his ordeal became clear: he had spent the entire Indy 500 sitting in his own urine.

While undeniably awkward, the incident shed light on the intense physical and mental challenges drivers face during high-stakes races like the Indy 500. The unexpected delay created an uncomfortable test of endurance, and while other drivers may have struggled with the same issue, Daly’s honesty made his experience stand out.

The aftermath also affected his Juncos Hollinger Racing team. Daly made sure to thank his mechanics for handling the cleanup after his in-car accident, though the exact details of what was involved weren’t shared. Still, it certainly added an unusual task to their post-race responsibilities. The team’s reaction, as seen in Daly’s public thanks, seemed supportive, which would be something we haven’t seen in the best racing movies.

Despite the bizarre and uncomfortable challenge of his unplanned bathroom break, Daly delivered a solid performance, finishing eighth after starting eleventh. He even led 13 laps, proving his skill and the car’s competitiveness under less-than-ideal circumstances. This result highlights his ability to stay focused and perform well even with such a major distraction.