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DARLINGTON, SC – MAY 13: Rick Hendrick talks with Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Throwback Chevrolet on pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Goodyear 400 on May 13, 2023 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SCPhoto by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 13 NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230513260400
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029820413h.jpg?width=600)
via Imago
DARLINGTON, SC – MAY 13: Rick Hendrick talks with Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Throwback Chevrolet on pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Goodyear 400 on May 13, 2023 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SCPhoto by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 13 NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon230513260400
Hendrick Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of NASCAR. Over the years, they have had a number of great drivers who have won them countless honors. In 2023, they have a talented driver lineup consisting of Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, William Byron, and Kyle Larson. Larson will have a huge moment in his career in 2024 thanks to a partnership between Arrow McLaren of IndyCar and HMS. He will be driving at the Indy 500 in 2024. It is only a testament to Larson’s talent that not only is he a part of one of the most successful teams in all of motorsport in NASCAR, but he will also take part in one of the most iconic races of all time.
While Rick Hendrick is happy to have such a talented racer in his team who will participate both in the Cup Series and the Indy 500, Larson is not the first man in HMS who would have raced in Indy. At a press conference in Indianapolis, HMS boss Rick Hendrick was asked about a certain Tim Richmond who had also driven in Indy. The HMS boss said that there were a lot of similarities between Richmond and Larson in terms of talent and hunger.
“He Just Wants to Race Anything” – Rick Hendrick on Former HMS Driver
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Hendrick was asked at the presser, “Early in your career you had an Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year drive for you, Tim Richmond. Did he ever tell you a lot of tales and stories about what it was like?”
“Tim Richmond told me a lot of tales,” the HMS boss chuckled.
“You know, he just said it was cool and you know, his talent is a lot like Kyle. He just wants to race anything, drive anything but he never spent much time telling me about this race,” he added.
Kyle Larson will be aiming to do the double at Indianapolis with NASCAR and IndyCar come 2024. It is, of course, an extremely difficult task to pull off but given his talents and the fact that he has a year to prepare, the 31-year-old might just be able to pull it off.
Read More – “So Like, We’re Done?” – Kyle Larson Claims IndyCar Is Too Easy
The gravity of the situation has not yet set in for Larson, however. The HMS star said that he has been quite busy recently and that he has not had time to think in detail about his IndyCar debut next year. However, he believes that once he gets that time during the off-season, the realization will sink in then.
Indy 500 Realization Has Not Set In for Kyle Larson
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“I’m obviously extremely excited but at the same time, I’m so busy that racing and trying to take care of my family that, you know, I haven’t, it hasn’t really set in yet that it’s truly a reality. When you have days like today and you unveil the car, you know all those little steps, it definitely, you know, makes it seem more real but I’m sure once things slow down in the off-season, I have a lot of time to sit around and think about the upcoming season and is when it’s gonna hit,” he said.
Larson said that he will be nervous as the days go by and the time for the race comes closer but he believes that he will be at peace once he gets in the car and does a few good laps around the iconic circuit.
“I have thought about that a little bit so I am nervous when I do think about that but I think once I get in the car, a lot of those nerves will hopefully go away after a few laps and it’ll feel like home just like all the other race cars I drive,” he added.
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Driving an IndyCar at Indianapolis for someone who is not familiar with the sport is a daunting task for anyone. But Kyle Larson has the skills and the dedication to prepare himself to the best of his abilities and give it 100% when the time comes.
WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace has a brutal 8-word response for boss Denny Hamlin jeopardizing his friendship with Kyle Larson
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