Why Kyle Larson wants to run the Indy 500 again

Kyle Larson enters the Brickyard 400 as the defending winner of the event. However, it is also his first time racing at the historic oval since competing in the Indianapolis 500 this past May.

Larson was attempting to complete the rare ‘Double’ after a failed attempt in 2024. And while he did take part in both races this time, he came several hundred miles short of running all the laps due to wrecking out of both races.

As he returns to IMS, Larson told NASCAR on TNT that the experience “hasn’t changed how I view this place. I always viewed it as being an amazing facility with an amazing history and all that.”

Reflecting further on the attempt, Larson admitted: “I obviously wish it would have gone better. I just made a lot of mistakes this May and crashed a few times, and just put myself in bad positions. I’ll always be grateful for the chance to get to do the Double. (I) wish it would have gone better, but still, a lot of fun and a lot of stress throughout those couple of weeks. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Will he ever run the Indy 500 again?

As Larson has previously said, he has no desire to attempt the ‘Double’ again in the immediate future, citing logistical challenges. However, he still wants to run the Indy 500 again, but a third attempt at the iconic race will likely have to wait until the end of his NASCAR career.

“It doesn’t sit well with me that I made two mistakes in both of the years I’ve done it and didn’t get the finishes I wanted,” said Larson. “But even if I don’t get to run the Indy 500 again, I’m grateful to have gotten to do it … We’ll see what the future holds.”

The impact on Larson’s NASCAR season

Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images

Larson also hasn’t won a Cup race since attempting to run the Indy 500 and the Coke 600 during Memorial Day Weekend, but he doesn’t necessarily feel the two are connected. 

“We’ve been off since the Double attempt this year, but I just think that’s circumstantial,” explained Larson. He also believes that running the Indy 500 doesn’t take anything away from the Cup program, as he is constantly running other races all around the country. 

“I don’t think it takes anything away. I race all the time, so I don’t spend a whole lot of time prepping for NASCAR races in general.”