NASCAR star Kyle Larson will make the Indianapolis 500 “the priority” in his racing plans Sunday, the NASCAR Cup start said on Sunday morning’s NBC broadcast, as the likelihood for Larson to complete both legs of the vaunted ‘Double’ seems unlikely due inclement weather headed for Indianapolis and the delay of Sunday’s Indy 500.
“I think our plan is to keep this the priority, so I would be here racing,” Larson told NBC’s Marty Snyder during an interview outside his motorhome on the NBC broadcast. “But I’m actually bummed about it. I want it to just rain out today, with the rain coming. I’d rather the storm be bigger and last longer, but it looks like it’s going to be in that window where I guess we might be able to get it dry and then race some today.”
Just after 11:15 a.m. Sunday morning, IMS announced a delayed for the start of the 500 with inclement weather heading toward central Indiana and likely to arrive as early as noon. With precipitation set to clear the area by 3 p.m. or so, according to IMS president Doug Boles, race officials expect the 500 to start Sunday afternoon around 4:30-5 p.m., as long as additional scattered showers don’t pop up during the track drying process.
With the NASCAR Cup series’ Coca-Cola 600 set to start at 6 p.m. at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports team have said this month they would need to leave IMS via helicopter by 4:15 p.m. or so in order to make the start of the NASCAR race. With no delays expected for the start of Cup’s 600, Larson’s NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick has been — or will soon be — put in a decision
i think our plan is to keep this the priority so yeah i would be here racing but im actaullly bummed about that because i want it just to rain out today with the rain coming id rather the storm be bigger and last longer but it looks like its goig to be in that window where i guess we might be able to get it dry and then race sometime today but then that that affects things for the 600 so yeah but its still weather so you dont know how its going to be exactly, idk id say worst case scenario is happening which such a bummer more than anything well get to get on track in something today so tahts exciting
i dont really know again i think all spur of the moment decisions and factors but we’ll see dont know how big the storm will be or what the weather will be behind it i do know rain coming behind this first storm but dont know how long after but im sure that’ll facotr into any decision on if we’ll get this race in or not they want to get the full distance in if they start this race if storm another hour or hour and a half after idk what their plan will be but idk we’lre just here part of the show and hope it goes smooth
its everybody within H, RH HAG HMS i think we’re all part of the decision, jeff gordon jeff andrews theress just been so much time & investment to make indy happen, been a buildup of over a year we need to run it and i want to and i feel like ive got a really good shot to have a good run and potentially win, i just wish it would all work out and we could get both races in the full distance i dont care if its on the same day i just wantto be able to race both races the full distance but we’ll see
Larson, the NASCAR Cup points leader who qualified fifth for Sunday’s Indy 500, is trying to drive in Indy and in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. He’s the first driver attempting the “Double” since 2014.
Gavin Ward, the team principal for Arrow McLaren, the team fielding Larson’s No. 17 Chevrolet for the Indy 500, said that NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick is “committed” to Larson’s Indy 500 participation.
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A source had told IndyStar that Hendrick gave the OK for Larson to stay and use a relief driver in the Cup race, if necessary.
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
