In a featured embodiment, a gas turbine engine has a compressor section having a downstream rotor and a diffuser downstream of the compressor section. A combustor receives air downstream of the diffuser. A turbine section has at least one component to be cooled. A conduit is spaced from the diffuser and defines a cooling airflow path. The cooling airflow path is separate from an airflow downstream the diffuser, and passing to the combustor. The conduit passes cooling air to the component to be cooled.