Kyle Larson challenges IndyCar drivers to try “the double” in NASCAR

Kyle Larson has probably been one of the busiest people in the U.S. for the last couple of weeks, splitting his time between preparing for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, aka the “Great Spectacle in Racing” —  and his busy schedule as a NASCAR regular.

After his share of practice days and qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Larson sat down with Motorsport.com to talk about beating Tony Stewart’s historic double results from 2001, his approach to the 109th Indianapolis 500, whether he will return to the event next year, and how much he wants IndyCar drivers to race the Coke 600.

Motorsport: You’re a true racer, someone who really loves driving fast cars. That’s your life almost every day. What do you enjoy most about driving in Indianapolis in an IndyCar?

“Yeah, I think what I enjoy a lot about being here in Indianapolis for the Indy 500 is being part of such a huge event. It’s the biggest racing event in the world. It’s one of the biggest events in the world, period.

“It’s really cool, and doing something new and different from what I typically do is a fun challenge. I enjoy that. I enjoy learning new things and racing with people from different backgrounds. It’s been really cool being a part of this event these past two times. I look forward to the weekend and hopefully doing a good job.

What do you get from driving an IndyCar in Indianapolis that you might not get from driving your Cup car — not in the sense that one is better than the other; more the feeling as a driver.

“Yeah, I mean, I think what surprised me in the beginning, and what continues to surprise people when I tell them, is that the two cars are more similar than different. The way they drive and feel, the aerodynamics, and the sensation of speed are similar, although the IndyCar goes a lot faster. The sensation you get is similar based on the grip you feel. The IndyCar is more technically advanced with probably more cockpit adjustments. That’s one thing you have to get used to in the beginning. But aside from that, as I said, there are more similarities than differences.”

Last year, you completed your entire time in Indianapolis without crashing, which was quite a feat. This year, you crashed twice in the lead-up to the race. Was that because you were pushing the limits more? What did you learn from those situations?

“Yeah, I think that with the introduction of the hybrid system this year, the weight of the car has made it a bit more challenging to find the right balance. I didn’t feel very good at the open test. Then, you know, I had a spin last week. I had a lot more front grip than I’ve ever felt in an IndyCar. Yeah, it kind of swapped around on me. But you’ve seen it this year. A handful of really good drivers have lost control of their cars. But, as I said, it’s a fun challenge trying to figure out your car and improve its balance.”

Would you like to see someone do the Double the other way around? Do you think it would be more challenging for someone from IndyCar to go to NASCAR?

“Yeah, I think I would love to see that. I love seeing crossovers between series. It’s always been NASCAR to Indy. I hope someday you’ll see an IndyCar driver give the Coke 600 a try. But it’s tough. I feel like the equipment here at Indy is a little more equal than in NASCAR.

”So, I feel like you can be more competitive coming here than going to run a stock car. I think a driver like Josef Newgarden could do extremely well because he’d have one of the best cars here and in Charlotte. You would get a fair read on how it would go. I would love to see it. But it’s challenging with logistics and everything. I think I’m unique here in this regard. I know it happened more before, but I feel like the window of time has just gotten tighter now. It makes it harder for others.”

Do you think this will be your last time at the Indy 500, no matter what happens on Sunday?

“I don’t know. I never want to close the door on anything. I’m definitely not closing the door on competing in the Indy 500 again. But I know that when this deal was originally put together, it was just a two-year plan. I don’t think there’s any thought of doing it again next year. But who knows? Anything could change, and maybe someday down the road, after I’m no longer a full-time NASCAR driver, I’d love to commit to doing this again. But you just never know where life will take you.”

What will make you feel satisfied when you go to bed on Sunday night after a very long day?

“First off, finishing all the laps would be amazing. That’s my first goal. Then, I would love to surpass what Tony Stewart did: finish sixth at Indy and third at the Coke 600 in 2001. If you could win one of those, that would be great. For now, I’m really just trying to finish the laps.”

You’re starting in 19th place. Last year, you started further up in the race. Are you concerned about dealing with traffic right from the beginning?

“No, there was a point early in the race (in 2024) where I had a bad restart and fell back to 15th or 16th place. So, you know, I gained some experience with starts and learned what to look for. But yes, whenever you’re in the middle of the pack, that’s where the craziness happens. Hopefully, we can do a good job of avoiding anything and come away with good track position early on, and then work from there.”

Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren, Tony Kanaan, Arrow McLaren

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

You’re already accustomed to using all the little tricks and tools in the IndyCar. For example, the weight jacker, and now, the hybrid. Are you feeling confident about the race?

“Yes, I do. I feel like we’ve gotten enough practice, and I’m comfortable with how everything feels. We have Carb Day on Friday, where we can make more runs on pit road, do pit stops, and so on. That’s always good practice before the race. I feel like, come race time, I’ll be ready to go.“

You’re working with some very talented drivers at McLaren, especially Pato O’Ward, who has always been quite competitive in the Indy 500. How has it been working with him?

“He’s a lot of fun to be around. He’s got a big personality. Obviously, he’s an extremely good racecar driver. You can tell that he’s the go-to guy on the team, the one everybody goes to for information and feedback. So, yeah, it’s great to have a teammate like that. I always love cheering on my teammates once I leave here and following their seasons.”