Kyle Larson Consolidates Indy Car Dream, Teasing Partnership With 2004 Champ, Thanks to $1.2 Billion Motorsports Giant

Kyle Larson managed to secure his spot in the 2023 season’s round of 8 after a scare in the qualifying at the Charlotte Roval. Despite his brilliance in the first stage, the following races put Rick Hendrick‘s #5 driver in a corner that he barely escaped from. Currently sitting 4th in the standings table, he faces his next test at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the coming weekend. As the #5 team prepares for the same, another shiny prospect appears to have caught the driver’s attention.

The 31-year-old will be making his IndyCar debut on Thursday for the Rookie Orientation Program ahead of his bid for the 2024 Indianapolis 500. Supporting him towards the same will be the 2004 IndyCar Series champion—Tony Kanaan.

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Kyle Larson will be testing Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar entry in his debut on the 2.5-mile track. Arrow McLaren is the IndyCar Series arm of $1.2-Billion-worth F1 giant, McLaren Racing. Larson‘s test is a requirement for entry to the Indianapolis 500 and will involve sessions at three different speeds. The orientation is the first step towards Larson’s goal to compete in two crucial races on the same day—May 26. Should all go well, the driver will be racing the 500 miles in Indianapolis before flying to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. The ambitious venture has been nicknamed the “Hendrick 1100” by the #5 team.

Before the expected event, the 2021 Cup Series champion took to Instagram to express his excitement. Sharing pictures of himself from the McLaren garage, he wrote, “Pumped to make my first @indycar laps today!!” Watching over him with a protective eye was Kanaan.

Larson’s boss Rick Hendrick, HMS legend Jeff Gordon, and Tony Kanaan are all set to witness the test firsthand. Kanaan will however play a larger role on the day as McLaren’s competition director and Larson’s coach.

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Larson’s attempt, should it be successful, will make him the 5th driver to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day. The other men who dared this run before him were John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, and Kurt Busch. Though the purpose is hail-worthy, the #5 team is in the middle of a dip. Its championship run hasn’t quite gone according to plan and that in turn, hasn’t let Larson be fully prepared for the challenge that lies ahead for him on Thursday.

Talking about his unpreparedness to the media, Larson said, “I really don’t know. It’s hard to think about when you’re in the middle of the playoffs. If it were in the middle of the regular season, I would probably have more thoughts about it or would be anticipating it for a while.” With the Charlotte Roval crash and the High Limit Sprint Car Series finale taking up the room in his mind, it is understandable that the driver could not sleep on his debut. Fortunately, he will be under the instructions of Kanaan. He will be driving the #17 car and has already been fitted for his seat at the Arrow McLaren shop in Indianapolis.

Larson’s debut is expected to drag in huge crowds at the track. Echoing the same, series owner Roger Penske told NBC, “To see Kyle, what he has been able to do in every other type of race car will be a real journey for all of the fans here in Indianapolis.”

Read More: Kyle Larson Claims Yet Another Championship Win Amidst His Worsening Playoff Misery