Larson Flies Under The Radar In Second Attempt At The Double
(Photo by Josh Hernandez/Penske Entertainment)
By Dennis Krause
Rookie pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman and the scandal surrounding Team Penske have dominated the headlines this week leading up to Sunday’s 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. So much so that NASCAR champion Kyle Larson’s second attempt at doing the double - the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day - has somewhat flown under the radar.
Which just happens to be the way Larson likes it.
“Yeah, I actually like that a lot. I feel like I get a lot of attention in everything that I do and race, and I don't really like that because I feel like it takes away from the spotlight of others. This year has been better because I feel like I've kind of flown under the radar a little bit more. Not really under the radar, still obviously an important thing, and I have still gotten a lot of coverage. But last year I felt, like, crazy.
“It's been good. It's been more normal, and I like it that way.”
While some drivers might be stressed by the effort involved, Larson is taking it all in stride.
“I feel like I deal with it okay. I didn't feel stressed about anything last year, even with all the extra hype. So I felt like I handled that well. And then this year has been less hype, but a lot more media on the off days, too. So it's been probably more stressful this year, just being as busy as I've been. But no, it is what it is. I deal with a lot of media, or hype, I guess, all year long, every year with everything that Ido.
(Photo by Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment)
Last year, as a 500 rookie, Larson had to do a lot of off track functions, like milking a cow as part of a promotion with the American Dairy Association. Despite not having those obligations this year, Larson says he’s been just as busy as he prepares for 1100 miles of racing on Sunday.
“Outside the car, it's been crazier this year logistics-wise. Going to New York and having a full day of media there and then flying back here. Going to the (Indiana) Fever (basketball) game was fun. Then yesterday had a lot more kind of media stuff to do, and then you have media day today. It's like three days of -- don't take this the wrong way -- but answering the same questions. It kind of drains you a little bit.”
(Photo by Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment)
On track, preparations for his second attempt at the double haven’t gone quite as smoothly as last year. Larson crashed his No. 17 hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in April’s open test and again in practice for the 500.
“I don't know. It's been different a little bit. I feel like it's obviously been a little more challenging with a couple of smaller crashes that we've had and then just having to work on the balance of the car more than we did last year.
“I feel like last year we didn't really have to mess with a whole lot. I thought the balance was pretty comfortable, but it's just taken a little bit more time to get to that comfortable spot this year.
“Happy with where we're at now. Yeah, you know, just kind of focused on both of the races at this point.”
While there’s maybe less attention paid to his bid to become just the only driver to complete the 1,100 miles since Tony Stewart accomplished the feat in 2001, Larson still feels the support for his effort.
“Yeah, I think everybody can respect somebody doing the double, so it does -- I notice the support, and from the fans especially probably more than anything.
“It always makes you feel good that you feel like there's a large amount of people cheering you on.
“Hopefully we can just make everybody proud this weekend and do a good job in both races and just try our best.”
One of Larson’s challenges this year at Indy is where he’s starting - the inside of the seventh row. Quite a difference from a year ago when he took the green flag from the middle of the second row.
“Yeah, it definitely presents challenges. I had that horrendous restart last year. I think I fell back to close to where I'm starting. We were able to get closer to the front by the three-quarter point of the race.
“I think if you just normal kind of race stuff, execute good restarts and pit stops and things, you can work your way forward without having to work too hard.
“Hopefully, myself and our team can do a good job on Sunday and just chip away at it.”
(Photo by Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment)
While they could make or break his race on Sunday, restarts are something that can’t really be practiced.
“Yeah, you don't get the chance to practice restarts in practice, but yeah, I just had that one kind of mishap last year where I think I kind of hit the rev limiter right when I went to shift to second, and then it got me confused if it did shift, and I think I hit it again maybe or something and ended up in the wrong gear.
“I was able to kind of overcome that and had -- I would say every restart after that was pretty good. We would gain a spot or three. It was honestly probably good for this year, I think, to go and have that bad restart and then you have to get aggressive on some others to learn for this year, having to start from, I don't know, row seven or wherever we're at.
“It's tough. You get a lot of laps throughout these couple of weeks, but there's still more to learn during the race than practice. Just getting into the rhythm of all that is a challenge. But, there's a lot of us out there that really don't have that much experience racing on ovals for some of these guys. Specifically, the Indy 500.”
A year ago, Larson didn’t take advantage of the weight-jacker and other tools available to him in the cockpit of his car to help with handling and balance issues during the race. Unlike in NASCAR, where he tends to drive around handling issues, Larson plans to utilize his tools this year in addition to the new hybrid system.
“Yeah, I have definitely gotten more -- I think last year I was just scared to do anything. I think my balance was in a happy spot last year, and I was like, I don't want to go and -- I didn't know how sensitive everything was going to be.
“This year, I've definitely played around with it a lot more. I feel like even last year I was afraid to do things in the short chute, moving bar. This year I've gotten way more comfortable with doing those things.
“The hybrid is, I feel like, hyped up as being this crazy new thing, but it's really not a big deal either, I don't think. You just pull the paddle and go. When you want more charges, hit a button. It's not really a big deal.
“Yeah, there is definitely more to the cockpits than what we're used to all year long in NASCAR or sprint car racing, but yeah, I feel like I've gotten the hang of it more this time around.”
(Photo by John Cole/Penske Entertainment)
While Larson never grew up wanting to be an INDYCAR driver, he admits he dreamt of racing in the Indy 500.
“I don't really remember, like ever, not thinking that I would ever run here. I just think from an early age, I always wanted to be a guy that would run all different types of stuff. I never wanted to be a full time IndyCar driver, but I always wanted to race the Indy 500 just because how big it is and I like driving different types of cars and the guys I looked up to did that. I dreamt of it, but it was just something in my head that I wanted to do, you know, from an early age."
Depending on how his NASCAR team owner, Rick Hendrick, feels about it, Larson has indicated that this year may be his last Indy 500 for the foreseeable future. If it is, have the last two years satisfied his desire to race in the 500?
“Yeah, I've had a lot of fun doing it, so, yeah, I mean, you never know what I'll do in the future, but I'm never going to close the door on doing it again. It's been fun, and I'm sure if I ever do miss it again, I'll have extreme FOMO, because it's just a really fun couple weeks here, and I just love being a part of big events.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.