Few active drivers have experienced the highs and lows of Indianapolis Motor Speedway quite like Kyle Larson, who arrives at the Brickyard this weekend reflecting on a memorable 2024 victory while chasing another crown-jewel win on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
Larson, who won the Brickyard 400 in 2024 after attempting the Indianapolis 500-Coca-Cola 600 double, said the triumph carried extra significance because of how difficult his month of May had been.
“I don’t know if redemption is the right word, but it was just extra satisfying,” Larson said. “The way the strategy worked out, people running out of fuel and inheriting the front row, it just seemed meant to be.”
As NASCAR returns to Indianapolis, Larson emphasized that winning at the Brickyard requires perfection across every aspect of a race team. The Hendrick Motorsports driver described Indianapolis as one of the most difficult tracks on the schedule for passing, putting an even greater premium on qualifying, pit stops, restarts and race strategy.
“Everybody has to be on the top of their game to have a shot to win,” Larson said. “When you win here, it just means more for the whole team.”
While Larson’s No. 5 team has endured a frustrating three-race stretch, he remains confident in the group’s direction. The former Cup Series champion pointed to incidents at Chicago, Atlanta and North Wilkesboro as setbacks that masked competitive speed.
“I think we’re a fourth- to seventh-place car,” Larson said. “If you continue to run in that window, you’ll hopefully have opportunities for wins to pop up.”
Larson added that Hendrick Motorsports continues to push for improvement despite already being one of NASCAR’s premier organizations. With Alex Bowman announcing plans to retire, Larson praised his longtime teammate as a valuable contributor both on and off the track.
“He’s been an amazing teammate, probably the best teammate you could ask for,” Larson said. “He’s made us all better.”
The 2021 Cup Series champion also weighed in on reports that Paramount is moving forward with a sequel to the NASCAR classic Days of Thunder. Larson called the original film one of the greatest racing movies ever made and expressed excitement about a modern follow-up that could showcase today’s NASCAR landscape.
Beyond Indianapolis, Larson also found himself agreeing with recent comments from IndyCar legend Scott Dixon regarding race lengths. Larson said many Cup Series events may be too long for modern sports audiences.
“I definitely think our races are too long,” Larson said. “I think three hours is too long.”