Kyle Larson wrecks out of the Indy 500 in restart melee

Kyle Larson’s day started out with some nervousness as rain delayed the start of the Indianapolis 500, putting his plan to run the Indy 500/Coke 600 double in doubt. The race did get underway with Larson starting from 19th on the grid.

He avoided most of the early trouble, but the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion never made it to the halfway point. Running 18th on a mid-race restart, he appeared to downshift on the run into Turn 2, upsetting the car. He lost control, spinning across the track and collecting two other cars as he slammed the outside wall.

Kyffin Simpson and Sting Ray Robb were both swept up in the chaos, ending their days as well. Simpson spun completely out, coming to a rest against the outside wall at the exit of Turn 2. Robb’s car actually struck the tire barriers to the inside of the track, causing rain water to splash all over the front of his car.

“It was a bit crazy there on the start,” said Larson after being released from the infield care center. “I got tight behind Takuma [Sato]. I was really close to him and I think I got loose and kind of got all over the place. Yeah, so I spun. Just hate that I got a little too eager there on the restart and caused that crash. So, hate it for everybody that also got caught up in it.

“Just bummed out, so I’ll try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte, and just forgot about it.”

Larson will finish 27th in his second start in the Indianapolis 500. Last year, Larson placed 18th. He now heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway to run NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, where he starts on the outside of the front row.

When Larson takes the green flag for the 600, he will become the fifth driver to ever complete the Double — running both the Indy 500 and Coke 600 on the same day. However, he won’t have the chance of matching Tony Stewart as the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles.