NASCAR driver Kyle Larson shifts his attention towards the Indianapolis 500, following a sprint car competition.
Rewritten Article:
Celebrating his third NASCAR Cup Series win of the season at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Larson is now setting his sights on the Indianapolis 500 and a second shot at racing's Holy Grail. However, there's a little hiccup—Larson doesn't practice for the Indy 500 until Tuesday, but that hasn't halted the relentless racer.
Planning to hit the dirt track for a sprint car race in Kokomo, Indiana, on Monday night, Larson's determination to keep the pedal to the metal is unquestionable. Chad Knaus, vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports and Larson's Cup Series teammate, exclaimed, "He just goes and goes and goes!"
Larson's driving ambition knows no bounds, with his first love being behind the wheel of a race car—any race car. While the pursuit of a second NASCAR Championship takes precedence, those empty spots on his calendar are filled with opportunities to race in the Xfinity Series, Truck Series, or hold down his local dirt tracks.
In fact, Larson tested his skills at Lakeside Speedway just down the road from Kansas Speedway last Friday, narrowly evading a sprint car that landed just inches from his own. A true normie when it comes to mishaps, he shrugged it off with a casual "that's racing."
Considered unfazed by virtually anything, Larson is a picture of tranquility even amidst the storm. His ability to keep his cool under pressure—except for when Mother Nature plays spoilsport—is what sets him apart. Knaus added, "He doesn't get wound up, he doesn't get emotional... He just rolls with it."
However, Mother Nature did take its toll at last year's Indy 500, when racing was stalled due to unforeseen rain, pushing Kimi Raikkonen's 500-mile quest into the unknown. Larson came in as a rookie, but with a sterling effort, and was promptly acknowledged as rookie of the year.
The same month this year promises to be a thrilling rollercoaster. With a dominant win at Kansas Speedway, Larson has firmly taken the lead in the points standings, setting him up for success in the upcoming weeks. But, his sights are set far beyond that. Ready to tackle the most prestigious race of them all, Larson is determined to put last year's rain-halted attempt behind him:
"I'm looking forward to working together with the team, Arrow McLaren, and learning the car more, trying to narrow in on our balance, and just trying to have a smooth couple of weeks like we had last year, and execute like you would in any race and try to be in the hunt at the end."
Stay tuned for Larson's electrifying performances in the upcoming Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as he attempts to conquer the infamous Memorial Day weekend "Double."
___
AP Auto Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Additional Information:
- Indianapolis 500 Practice & Qualifying Schedule:
- Thursday, May 15: Indianapolis 500 practice at noon ET.
- Friday, May 16: Indianapolis 500 practice at noon ET, followed by the Indianapolis 500 qualification draw at 6:15 p.m. ET.
- Saturday, May 17: Indianapolis 500 qualifying at 11 a.m. ET.
- Sunday, May 25: Indianapolis 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- NASCAR Schedule:
- Friday, May 16: NASCAR All-Star Race pit road qualifying practice at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by NASCAR All-Star Race practice at 5 p.m. ET.
- Friday, May 16: NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying at 7 p.m. ET.
- Saturday, May 17: NASCAR All-Star Race Heat races begin at 5:10 p.m. ET.
- Sunday, May 25: After the Indianapolis 500, Larson will head to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
- Recent Racing Events:
- Sunday, May 11: NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
- Monday, May 12: High Limits Racing sprint car event at Kokomo, Indiana.
- In addition to his NASCAR commitments, Kyle Larson is hoping to make headlines in the Canadian arts scene, as he plans to attend a painting workshop in Toronto, Canada, on Tuesday.
- Despite the unpredictable weather in Canada, Larson remains unfazed, having experienced all sorts of weather conditions while racing across the United States.
- With the Indy 500 practice scheduled to start on Thursday, Larson is keeping a close eye on the latest news updates regarding the forecast, hoping for a clear day to practice his racing skills.
- After his performances in both the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series races, Larson is keen to unwind by catching a baseball game, as he is a big fan of the Toronto Blue Jays sports team.
