Christopher Bell recently opened up about his interest in competing in the Indy 500, providing insight into his thoughts on fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Larson’s recent entry into the event. Bell’s reflections came during his appearance on the Stacking Pennies podcast with Corey LaJoie, where the challenges and appeal of balancing multiple racing disciplines were discussed.
Bell’s Thoughts on Attempting the Legendary Indy 500
During the podcast, Bell addressed questions about his own potential run at the prestigious Indy 500. He revealed a longstanding curiosity about the race and acknowledged his desire to take part in it eventually.
I have interest in running the Indy 500 and I had it before he [Kyle Larson] did it, for sure,
Bell said.
Despite this interest, Bell made it clear that his current priority lies firmly within the NASCAR Cup Series as he focuses on building his career.
“At this point in my career, like I’m definitely not willing to do anything to take away from that weekend in the on the Cup side. And I think it would be unfair for me to entertain the idea while I’m at this point in my career,”
he stated.
Maybe years down the road if it gets to the point to where I am a multi-time Cup Champion and a Coke 600 title is like, okay, well, I can sacrifice a little bit here to go do it. But I’m not there right now,
Bell explained.
He emphasized that although the Indy 500 remains one of his goals, it is not something he plans to pursue anytime soon.
I want to make sure I focus on my day job and hopefully one day I’ll get to run the Indy 500. But it’s not in the near future.
Reasons Behind Bell’s Cautious Approach Compared to Larson
Kyle Larson’s recent involvement in the Indy 500 attracted considerable attention, showcasing the growing trend of NASCAR drivers expanding into other motorsport arenas. Larson successfully managed to balance his Cup Series duties alongside competing at Indianapolis, but Bell’s comments highlight the difficulty of handling two major events happening on the same weekend, both requiring peak levels of focus and preparation.
Bell’s method reflects a careful and disciplined commitment to his NASCAR career, with ambitions to win multiple Cup Series championships and the esteemed Coke 600 before exploring other racing opportunities. His stance suggests that events like the Indy 500 will be considered only after achieving significant milestones within NASCAR.
