Kyle Larson breaks down his Indy 500 qualifying run: 'I'll definitely take that'
On Saturday, Kyle Larson not only qualified for the Indy 500, he made his way into the Fast 12 for Sunday with a shot at winning the pole. The NASCAR champion is turning heads in Indianapolis with his driving.
At more than 232.5 MPH, Kyle Larson was zooming around that track. He was P7 in the session and has more work to do today. But the driver was able to reflect on his success at the very least.
Larson had a rough start to his Saturday. He had to abort from his first qualifying attempt due to an alert the car gave him. Being unfamiliar with the car and signals, Larson brought it in out of caution.
It all worked out in the end. Larson is more than happy to take his speed and get to today’s Fast 12.
“Yeah, I’ll definitely take that,” Larson told NBC after the run. “Hopefully, it’s enough to make the Fast Twelve for tomorrow, that’d be really cool. Happy with the balance of the car and proud of the team for all of us not freaking out after not getting to complete that first run. Just great to be in the show! Huge thank you to Arrow McLaren, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, especially Rick Hendrick. I know he’s watching probably back at home and just an awesome opportunity and having a blast so far, too.
“Staying in tune with things that are going on at North Wilkesboro as well. So, it’s been fun watching from a distance. Happy to get a good run in there.”
As far as his nerves go, that first incomplete run helped him calm down. Kyle Larson went out on the track and did what he had to do.
“Honestly I feel like the nerves were a lot less going the second time. Even with not completing that first run, I just felt like, less nervous,” Larson said. “It’s just good to get a run in. I don’t ever get to qualify like that where you get multiple shots at it. At least where that one lap matters, this you can forfeit a run. So, yeah, getting that run in earlier even not completing it was fine and felt much more comfortable that last run.”
Kyle Larson is not in Indianapolis to have fun. He’s going to have a lot of fun, but that’s not the point. He is there to run as well as he possibly can, and if everything aligns, race for a win. Then he has to go to Charlotte and race 600 miles in a stock car for his day job.
The motorsports world will be watching today and they will be watching next weekend as well. Larson has the full attention of the sport and is ready to make the most of his opportunity.