Larson’s Impressions Ahead of Indy 500 Debut with Arrow McLaren-Rick Hendrick Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has been making waves in the buildup to his Indy 500 debut, where he is set to start fifth on Sunday in the No. 17 Arrow McLaren-Rick Hendrick Chevrolet. This historic collaboration marks Rick Hendrick’s first time as a team owner in the Indy 500, a significant milestone in the world of motorsports.
Larson’s experience so far has been encouraging, enough to consider future attempts in the Indy 500. When asked by Motorsport.com about the possibility of going beyond this debut, he responded, “> Yeah, maybe. I just kind of want to see how this experience goes first. If I enjoy it, and if it doesn’t scare the shit out of me, then maybe I would like to do it again.”
During a media availability on Wednesday morning, Hendrick and Zak Brown discussed the possibility of a multi-year deal with options. Hendrick shared his thoughts on looking at continuing the effort for 2025, saying, “> Well, haven’t had enough time to talk about ’25 yet. But I know Zak and I have talked about it before, so we’ll see how this goes, and then I’ve got to see if Zak wants to do it again.”
Brown expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “> I already know the answer to that,” and elaborated on the collective passion for racing and road cars within the organization. “> Certainly, when we got started, the intent was let’s see where this partnership can grow because I think we all like to be at the racetrack as many weekends as possible. I think it’s super cool to have some papaya on the NASCAR, so certainly we’ve got to focus right now on Sunday and then turn our attention to the future.”
One of the sensitive points addressed was how the team would handle the situation if weather were to impede the outing. Larson is also set to run the 600-mile Cup Series race at Charlotte on Sunday evening after the Indy 500, only the fifth driver to ever attempt ‘The Double’ on Memorial Day weekend. Hendrick emphasized that pulling Larson out of the Indy 500 would be extremely difficult, considering the effort invested by everyone involved.
The IndyCar 2023 schedule is filled with exciting events, and Larson’s participation in the Indy 500 has already generated significant buzz. As the motorsports world looks ahead to IndyCar 2024, the possibility of Larson’s continued involvement in the Indy 500 adds an extra layer of excitement to the sport. Stay tuned for more IndyCar news and updates!
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