Daly recovers well in Abu Dhabi - update

American Conor Daly drove a rebuilt GP2 car to seventh fastest time in the final afternoon session today at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. It was a strong recovery for Daly after a high speed crash on Wednesday. "This team did a great job to get the car rebuilt after yesterday. I felt so bad for them, but they understood how and why the accident happened," said Daly.

An almost unprecedented lack of awareness towards the end of Wednesday morning's session sent American, Conor Daly barrel rolling off the track. With about one hour to go, Daly had set 10th fastest time of the session when he pitted for new tires. On his first flying lap, Daly blasted through the blind turn 18 having just set a personal best and a purple timed sector (fastest sector time of the session) when he came across Argentinian, Facu Regalia, running slowly on the racing line. Daly had no hope of missing him and the resulting impact sent him into a series of rolls before he impacted the barrier.

"I could not miss him - it's a real shame - to be going that slow in an almost blind corner - complete lack of respect for what we were all doing," said Daly.

Almost unbelievably, Regalia was doing pit stop practice and was running slowly on track while circulating to do practice pit stops. "Oh man, I didn't see you," was all Regalia could say after the incident.

Daly was cleared by the infield medical center at Yas Marina but did go to a local hospital on Wednesday evening to have a splint fitted to his sprained right ankle. "The team was pumped with the speed on new tires and worked long hours to have the car reparied and ready to go for the final day," said Daly. "My ankle was really sore a few hours after the accident but I was okay this morning."

The GP2 paddock is now headed to Sakhir for the second and final pre-season testing which will take place next week on the 19th, 20th and 21st of March at Bahrain International Circuit.

ABOUT CONOR: In 2013, Daly competed in the GP3 Championship where he finished 3rd. He also drove for AJ Foyt Racing as a rookie in the Indianapolis 500 finishing 22nd.

Daly Conor