Larson restarted twenty third following a miscue on pit highway on lap 130 of the initially scheduled 160-lap race, took the lead within the first time beyond regulation and clinched the Brickyard 400 victory when a warning was displayed on the ultimate lap of the second time beyond regulation and Larson within the lead.
In his first interview after the race, Larson was already relishing his subsequent racing enterprise on the two.5-mile oval.
“I like you, Indiana followers. I do know you guys love me, too.,” he stated to a roar from the gang. “How about we come again subsequent Might and attempt to kiss these bricks in an IndyCar?”
It definitely appears a return look within the Indianapolis 500 is within the works – and a victory just isn’t out of the query.
Larson made his IndyCar Sequence debut on this 12 months’s Indy 500 – a part of his try at ‘The Double’ – working the five hundred and Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup race on the identical day throughout Memorial Day weekend.
Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, #98: Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta w/ Marco & Curb-Agajanian Honda, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti World Honda
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures
Mom Nature had different plans, nevertheless.
Rain in Indianapolis delayed the beginning of the five hundred for a number of hours, which compelled Larson to overlook the beginning of the 600. As soon as he arrived in Charlotte for that race, it had already been pink flagged for rain and was by no means restarted.
Because it turned out, lacking the 600 didn’t damage Larson’s NASCAR season – he leads the collection standings and now has 4 wins – however the aborted ‘Double’ left an unfulfilled feeling.
Will Larson be again for the 2025 Indy 500?
Group proprietor Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon each supplied a noncommittal “not but” when requested if Larson was cleared for an additional ‘Double’ try, however the driver definitely is pushing for it.
“I imply, we undoubtedly have been speaking about it. I feel weighing what’s essential to everyone,” Larson stated. “It sounds good, I’ll say, to date, however issues might change. Yeah, we’ll see.
“I might clearly like to do it. I feel everyone is aware of I might like to do it as a result of in my thoughts I didn’t get to do it this 12 months. I didn’t get to not less than do the ‘Double.’
“I hope that the items can fall into place, and we will hopefully get issues put collectively and announce one thing, get enthusiastic about doing the ‘Double’ subsequent 12 months.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Larson confirmed loads of velocity in his first IndyCar stint, from apply, via qualifying and into the race itself. A few errors – going via the gears on a restart and a pit highway rushing penalty – knocked him out of competition and he completed 18th.
But a victory within the Indy 500 is now the one one he’s missing within the three high-profile races wherein he’s competed at IMS.
“Attending to dwell via that race this 12 months, like, it’s clearly a really robust race. Very related race, however very robust,” Larson stated of the five hundred. “These Penske vehicles are silly quick. It was going to be nearly unimaginable for anyone to beat Josef Newgarden).
“Hopefully subsequent 12 months with the hybrid stuff, there’s extra alternative for extra groups to be sooner. Hopefully sometime I can get an opportunity to win the five hundred.
“I’ve received on the dust observe on the BC39, bought to kiss the bricks there. Now within the 400. I assume there’s yet one more to test off, which is the Indy 500, which might be fairly particular.”
