Larson restarted twenty third following a miscue on pit street on lap 130 of the initially scheduled 160-lap race, took the lead within the first additional time and clinched the Brickyard 400 victory when a warning was displayed on the ultimate lap of the second additional time 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 actually appears a return look within the Indianapolis 500 is within the works – and a victory shouldn’t be out of the query.
Larson made his IndyCar Sequence debut on this yr’s Indy 500 – a part of his try at ‘The Double’ – operating 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 Photographs
Mom Nature had different plans, nevertheless.
Rain in Indianapolis delayed the beginning of the five hundred for a number of hours, which pressured Larson to overlook the beginning of the 600. As soon as he arrived in Charlotte for that race, it had already been crimson 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 sequence standings and now has 4 wins – however the aborted ‘Double’ left an unfulfilled feeling.
Will Larson be again for the 2025 Indy 500?
Workforce proprietor Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon each provided a noncommittal “not but” when requested if Larson was cleared for an additional ‘Double’ try, however the driver actually is pushing for it.
“I imply, we undoubtedly have been speaking about it. I believe weighing what’s necessary to all people,” Larson stated. “It sounds good, I’ll say, up to now, however issues might change. Yeah, we’ll see.
“I might clearly like to do it. I believe all people is aware of I might like to do it as a result of in my thoughts I didn’t get to do it this yr. I didn’t get to no less than do the ‘Double.’
“I hope that the items can fall into place, and we are able to hopefully get issues put collectively and announce one thing, get enthusiastic about doing the ‘Double’ subsequent yr.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Larson confirmed loads of velocity in his first IndyCar stint, from observe, by way of qualifying and into the race itself. A few errors – going by way of the gears on a restart and a pit street dashing penalty – knocked him out of rivalry 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 through which he’s competed at IMS.
“Attending to dwell by way of that race this yr, like, it’s clearly a really powerful race. Very comparable race, however very powerful,” Larson stated of the five hundred. “These Penske automobiles are silly quick. It was going to be just about unimaginable for anyone to beat Josef Newgarden).
“Hopefully subsequent yr with the hybrid stuff, there’s extra alternative for extra groups to be quicker. Hopefully sometime I can get an opportunity to win the five hundred.
“I’ve gained on the grime monitor on the BC39, received to kiss the bricks there. Now within the 400. I suppose there’s yet one more to verify off, which is the Indy 500, which might be fairly particular.”
