Kyle Larson Will Compete at the 2024 Indianapolis 500 – Jayski’s NASCAR Silly Season Site
CONCORD, NC – OCTOBER 09: Kyle Larson, driver of the HendrickCars.com #5 car, walks on stage during driver introductions before the NASCAR Bank of America Cup Series Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 09, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kyle Larson will see his dream of running the Indianapolis 500 come true.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion will join McLaren Racing as part of the Arrow McLaren line-up for the 2024 edition of the Indy 500. Rick Hendrick will partner with the Chevrolet entry and title sponsorship from HendrickCars.com.
“I am so excited,” said Larson. “Competing in the Indianapolis 500 is a dream of mine and something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time – ever since I was a kid before I started competing in sprint cars. To do it with McLaren and Mr. Hendrick in particular is a dream come true.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and really looking forward to it even though it’s still about a year and a half away. I’m really looking forward to competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Charlotte (Motor Speedway) 600 and maybe even a win or two that day.”
The 108th race of the Indianapolis 500 will also mark the first event as the owner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for Hendrick, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017. It’s something very meaningful for the 14-time trophy winner of the series team.
“Having the opportunity to support Kyle, partner with an elite team like Arrow McLaren and promote HendrickCars.com in one of the world’s greatest motorsport events is truly unique,” said Hendrick. “We are all competitors. Putting Kyle in top-tier equipment and allowing him plenty of time to prepare for such a tough challenge was important.
“It would be very special for Chevrolet to present at the Indy 500 as a vehicle owner. A collaboration like this was just what we needed to make it happen, and luckily the stars lined up. We are 100% committed to doing it right and look forward to working with Zak (Brown, CEO McLaren Racing) and its organization”.
McLaren Racing has a storied history, as does Hendrick Motorsports. The organization has won 20 Formula 1 World Championships, 183 Formula 1 Grands Prix, three Indianapolis 500s, and one 24 Hours of Le Mans (which came at its first attempt in 1995).
“The addition of Kyle Larson in partnership with HendrickCars.com to the Indy 500 lineup in 2024 is exciting for the Arrow McLaren team as well as for the racing fans,” said Brown. “He’s a complete driver, known for racing anything on wheels, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Kyle can do in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES car. It’s been great working with Rick Hendrick and (Vice President of Hendrick Motorsports) Jeff Gordon to put this together, so thanks Big thanks to them for what’s to come in May 2024.”
The 30-year-old Larson hails from Elk Grove, California, and will be looking to become the fifth driver to run “The Double” — the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day over Memorial Day weekend. John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Bosch are the others. Busch is the most recent to do so (in 2014), while Stewart (in 2001) is the only driver to complete 1,100 miles. No driver has won the attempt at “The Double” with either leg.
The upcoming 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season marks Larson’s third season with Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. In 2021, he won 10 races, an All-Star Race and a Cup Series championship. Last season, he won three races and is now the winningest driver in the history of the team’s No. 5 car with 13 victories.
Additional details such as the vehicle number and paint scheme for the entry will be announced at a later date.
– Hendrick Motorsports –