Kyle Larson has opened up about his nerve-wracking experience ahead of his first Indy 500 attempt, set to unfold in 2024. The NASCAR Cup Series champion took part in the 108th running of the celebrated race, known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, striving to conquer “The Double” with this effort.
Despite Larson’s familiarity with oval racing, the Indy 500’s unique qualifying format—where drivers are ranked by the average speed over four laps, rather than a single lap time—presented a fresh challenge. Facilitated by IndyCar team Arrow McLaren, Larson faced palpable tension from his squad before the crucial qualifying session, with thoughts of Fernando Alonso’s failure to qualify in 2019 haunting the team.
While Larson and his No. 17 team encountered issues when his car lost power during the first run, their determination paid off as he secured an impressive fifth position in his final qualifying attempt. Starting the race in the second row, he joined Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden, who dominated the front row. His teammate, Alexander Rossi, claimed fourth place.
The race, however, tested Kyle Larson. Two errors during the event marred what could have been a stellar debut. After a caution, the NASCAR champion inadvertently engaged the wrong gear, resulting in a significant drop of ten positions. Later, on lap 131 of the 200-lap race, a drive-through penalty for speeding on pit road added to his challenges, ultimately relegating him to an 18th-place finish.
Reflecting on the race in an episode of the Pit Pass Indy podcast, Larson expressed his intent to finish in the P4 to P8 bracket with Arrow McLaren in the upcoming Indy 500. As he prepares for next year’s race, he hopes for favorable weather conditions on Memorial Day to ensure his attempt at The Double proceeds without interruption.
