Larson began twenty third after a pit lane error on lap 130 of the originally scheduled 160-lap race, took the lead in the primary extra time and secured the Brickyard 400 victory when the yellow flag got here out on the ultimate lap of the second extra time with Larson within the lead.
In his first post-race interview, Larson was already enthusiastic about one other race on the two.5-mile oval track.
“I love you, Indiana fans. I know you love me too,” he said, drawing cheers from the gang. “What do you think we come back in May and try kissing those bricks in IndyCar?”
It appears a return to the Indianapolis 500 is underway – and a win isn’t out of the query.
Larson made his IndyAutomobile Series debut this yr within the Indy 500, which was a part of his try and achieve a “double win” by running within the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup race on the identical day during Memorial Day weekend.
Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, #98: Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco and Curb-Agajanian Honda, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global Honda
Photo: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsports images
Mother Nature, nonetheless, had other plans.
Rain in Indianapolis delayed the beginning of the five hundred for several hours, forcing Larson to miss the beginning of the 600. By the time he arrived in Charlotte for that race, it had already been suspended as a result of rain and never restarted.
As it seems, the shortage of 600 mph hasn’t hurt Larson’s NASCAR season — he leads the series standings with 4 wins — however the aborted doubleheader has left him feeling unfulfilled.
Will Larson return to the Indy 500 in 2025?
Team owner Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports vp Jeff Gordon each gave a vague “not yet” answer when asked if Larson has been given the go-ahead to try for one more double-title run, but the motive force is actually pushing for it.
“I mean, we’ve definitely talked about it. I think it’s weighing up what’s important to everyone,” Larson said. “It sounds good, I’ll say, to date, but things could change. Yeah, we’ll see.
“Of course I'd wish to do it. I believe everyone knows I'd wish to do it, because in my head I didn't get to do it this yr. I didn't get to do a minimum of the 'Double.'
“Hopefully everything will work out and we can put it all together and announce something, excitedly planning for ‘Double’ next year.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsports images
Larson showed loads of speed in his first IndyAutomobile race, from practice to qualifying and into the race itself. A few mistakes — a gear change on the restart and a speeding penalty on the pit stop — sidelined him and he finished 18th.
However, an Indy 500 victory is currently the just one he’s missing from the three prestigious races he has competed in at IMS.
“To get through this race this year, obviously it’s a very tough race. A very similar race, but a very tough one,” Larson said of the five hundred. “Those Penske cars are incredibly fast. It was almost unimaginable for anyone to beat Josef Newgarden.)
“Hopefully next year with the hybrid stuff there will be more opportunities for more teams to be faster. Hopefully one day I'll have a chance to win the 500.”
“I won on the dirt track at BC39, I could have kissed the bricks there. Now the 400. I think there's one more to check off, the Indy 500, which would be special.”
