After ready out a four-hour rain delay, Kyle Larson rolled off fifth within the No. 17 Arrow McLaren-Rick Hendrick Chevrolet and skilled the highs and lows that comes with competing within the Indy 500.
Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Collection champion, rotated out and in of the highest 10 within the opening half of the 200-lap race, however hit hassle on lap 131 when he carried an excessive amount of pace coming into the pits. Consequently, Race Management handed him a drive-through penalty that he served three laps later and went a lap down.
Nevertheless, a warning on lap 147 supplied the prospect to get again on the lead lap with a wave round and battle again – even main 4 laps throughout a pit cease cycle – to gather the highest 20 end result. He was scored because the second-highest rookie within the subject behind Ed Carpenter Racing’s first-year driver Christian Rasmussen, who began twenty fourth and completed twelfth.
After the race, Larson teased a return to “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing” earlier than flying to Charlotte in an effort to complete the 600-mile Cup race as a part of the second leg of ‘The Double’ – working each the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the identical Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.
Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, #98: Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta w/ Marco & Curb-Agajanian Honda, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti International Honda
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures
“I’d undoubtedly like to be again subsequent 12 months,” Larson mentioned. “I really feel like I discovered lots all through the race. Made a few errors early there with the restart. Unsure what I did unsuitable there.
“I in some way acquired myself into third (gear) after which felt like I did a very good job on the restarts and was in a position to study lots. Undoubtedly be ok with understanding what I would want completely different for the stability to assist runs and stuff. Clearly, I smoked the left entrance on the green-flag cease and killed our alternative.
“Proud to complete, however fairly upset with myself. Simply may have executed a greater race. You do not know what may have occurred. Yeah, bummed at myself, however enormous thanks to Arrow McLaren, Hendrick Motorsports, Hendrick Automotive Group, Rick Hendrick, Chevrolet, Valvoline, all people that is part of this. We’ll go hop on the jet and see if I can get into the 600 in some way.”
Larson instantly left the observe for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, which was already effectively underway. Justin Allgaier jumped behind the wheel of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Larson arrived after 249 of 400 laps have been accomplished, however a major rain storm hit the observe across the similar time.
Allgaier was working thirteenth on the time of the crimson flag and Larson will take over, ought to the race get again underway. Since Allgaier began the race, he will likely be credited with no matter end result Larson will get.
