INDIANAPOLIS – The realization of a dream to compete in the Indianapolis 500 turned into a bit of a nightmare for 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson.
Larson became the first driver since Kurt Busch in 2014 to race the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, but the weather completely ruined his chances of completing the Hendrick 1100.
However, the weather forecast was wrong, as thunderstorms and heavy rain hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway just after 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, causing the start of the race, which was scheduled for 12:45 p.m., to be delayed by four hours.
That became Larson’s top priority of the day, given the amount of work that went into Larson’s first attempt at the Indianapolis 500. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick and vice chairman Jeff Gordon agreed, as they had put a lot of time, effort and resources into Larson’s Indy run.
Larson’s decision to compete in the rain-delayed Indy 500 meant he would not race in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Justin Allgaier will start in Larson’s stock car instead of the No. 5 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet in the 400-lap NASCAR marathon.
Rather than basking in the joy of competing in his first Indianapolis 500, Larson told NBCSports.com during Monday night’s Indianapolis 500 victory celebration that he was overcome with guilt.
He felt like he’d let down the entire Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR team and its legion of loyal fans.
“Everything was perfect leading up to the day of the race,” Larson told NBCSports.com. “And that’s what got me down.”
“Race day was awful. Honestly, yesterday was awful. I didn’t enjoy anything.”
“Hopefully I can go back someday and really enjoy both races.”
There’s a reason so few drivers attempt to compete in two of the biggest races on the planet on the same day: the Indianapolis 500 is known around the world and has more than a century of history and tradition.
The Coca-Cola 600 is NASCAR’s longest running race and one of its biggest events, taking place in Charlotte, North Carolina, the capital of the NASCAR world.
“It’s difficult, but I think if it was just a normal race day, like a normal event, it would be a lot more manageable,” Larson said, “But when you have two marquee events and one that’s going to affect your season, it’s a lot to get through. But I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m just grateful that I even had the chance.”
“I wish the weather was on our side.”
“I was praying that it would rain for another hour and then we’d be OK, but that didn’t happen.”
Kyle Larson talks with his son Owen before the 108th Indianapolis 500 race — Photo by Bruce Martin
Larson believes that if it had rained for another hour in Indianapolis, the Indy 500 would have been canceled and postponed to Monday after which he was scheduled to run the full distance of the Coca-Cola 600 before returning to Indianapolis for the 500-mile race on Memorial Day.
But with 347,000 fans packed into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, every effort must be made to keep the Indy 500 race on as scheduled, or many fans will leave the track heartbroken, having missed out on the most important day of the year (and the day they spent a lot of money to attend).
Larson couldn’t escape the overwhelming feeling of guilt that came from his decision to race the Indy 500 despite the race’s four-hour start delay.
“I don’t know if I was in the right frame of mind at all,” Larson admitted to NBCSports.com. “I felt like I had a lot of weight on my shoulders and a lot of guilt about not being able to be in two places at once.”
“I was never in the right frame of mind. I didn’t enjoy anything yesterday.”
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown takes a “selfie” with Kyle Larson, Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon — Photo by Bruce Martin
Not even the pre-race ceremony, the drama, Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, all the key team executives there and all the photos with the VIPs who were taken next to his car on the starting grid before the race could erase that horrible feeling in Larson’s soul.
“I felt like we all lost out because of the weather and everything else,” Larson said, “so I really hope everyone there had a good time.
“It’s hard to really enjoy a race, even if it’s the biggest in the world, when you know you’re going to miss another one.
While Larson felt guilty, Gordon felt elated.
“I got goosebumps,” he told NBCSports.com as he walked across the starting grid and approached Larson’s car before the Indy 500.
“It’s pretty cool and emotional and it’s going to get even more emotional once the pre-race ceremonies start,” Gordon said. “I got goosebumps being at the Indianapolis 500 on race day and I think it’s going to get even more emotional.”
Gordon explains why the Indy 500 is Larson’s top priority
Jeff Gordon catches up with Marty Snyder to discuss the logistics surrounding Kyle Larson’s double attempt and the team’s day-long effort with the Indy 500 postponed due to weather.
Larson had a nearly perfect two weeks leading up to 108.Number Indianapolis 500. He qualified in the Fast Six to finish fifth, and never made a wrong turn during practice or time trials at Indy.
He quickly adapted to the high-speed action: He signed countless autographs, posed for countless photographs and did more media interviews and personal appearances in two weeks than in most of a NASCAR Cup Series season.
Larson was the perfect ambassador for the Indianapolis 500, representing both NASCAR and the grassroots, dirt track and sprint car fans.
That was enough for him to win the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award after finishing 17th.NumberHe led four laps and was a favorite for a top-five finish, but was penalized for speeding on pit road during a pit stop on Lap 131. This dropped Larson a lap back, but he fought his way back onto the lead lap and was able to complete all 200 laps of the Indianapolis 500.
“The experience these past few weeks has been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before,” said Larson, who was awarded the Indy 500 ROY award on Monday night. “The fan support has been incredible. I felt like I was the fan favorite from the beginning.”
“It was great having Rick Hendrick here. I just wish the whole plan had gone better.”
Rick Hendrick and Kyle Larson before the Indianapolis 500 — Photo by Bruce Martin
Larson admitted to checking his phone every two minutes to check the weather forecast.
“It was stressful for me,” he said. “Everybody was running one race and I was trying to run two.”
The weather checks continued throughout the day.
After finishing the Indianapolis 500 at 7:45 p.m., he hopped into a black SUV parked on pit road with other key Hendrick Motorsports executives. The SUV transported him to a helicopter in the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, then to a private jet from Indianapolis Airport to Concord Regional Airport, a few miles from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
After another helicopter ride to CMS, Larson arrived at the NASCAR track at 9:13 pm ET.
Larson to compete in Indy 500 and Coke 600
Kyle Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway just hours after competing in the Indianapolis 500 to attempt to complete “The Double” at the Coca-Cola 600 before inclement weather forced an early end to the race.
He got his Chevrolet back from Allgaier and was ready to complete the remainder of the Coca-Cola 600.
However, 10 minutes later, the race was red flagged due to rain.
“I knew the weather was going to be bad, and I was hoping it would get bad before the halfway point so the race wouldn’t be official,” Larson said.
“I arrived at the race track just in time for the rain to start, and I thought the race would be canceled right away. Then, as the rain started to come down and the track started to dry, I started to feel hopeful again. My mood finally turned to happiness. I just had to get ready to race. There were 150 laps left in the race, and I knew I had plenty of time to get into the lead. I knew my car was fast, and looking at the track, it was probably 80 percent dry and it didn’t seem like it would be too long until I was ready to race.
“Then they surprised us all and made it official. It ruined any good feeling I had.”
The disappointment was still on Larson’s face when he returned to Indianapolis on Monday to collect his Indy 500 prize money.
He credits Arrow McLaren sporting director and 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan for helping him adjust quickly and smoothly to the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet.
“Tony Kanaan has been a huge asset to me,” Larson said, “helping me get the experience and make the transition easier. I’d love to do it again someday.”
next year?
“I hope so,” Larson said, “and considering what happened yesterday, it might take some convincing to get him to do it again.”
“Maybe Roger Penske can make the weather better.”
Larson never got to fulfill his dream of completing all 1,100 miles in the “Hendrick 1100.” In fact, he only managed to complete 500 miles, as he was unable to complete a single lap in competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
But he did help his father, Mike, fulfill his dream of seeing his son race in the Indianapolis 500 race.
“I knew how excited my dad would be ever since this deal was announced,” Larson said. “He’s had so much fun these past two weeks, and yesterday he got to meet his idol, Mario Andretti, on the grid.
“He was so happy, he cried a lot, to see his son compete in the Indianapolis 500 after working so hard and putting in so much time, effort and energy to reach the top ranks of North American motorsport.”
“It meant a lot more to me to race for him than it did for myself.
“I hope and pray that I’ll get another opportunity.”
Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter @BruceMartin_500
