Larson races the McLaren 2024 Indianapolis 500
Larson races the McLaren 2024 Indianapolis 500
Champion driver Kyle Larson will join McLaren Racing for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, adding to Arrow McLaren’s star-studded lineup for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.
Larson’s Chevrolet will be owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick and carry the title partnership from HendrickCars.com. Hendrick is Chairman and CEO of the Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of the 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Hendrick Motorsports, which Larson has driven since 2021, when he won the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Additional details, including the vehicle number and color of the HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, will be announced at a later date.
“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. Doing so with Arrow McLaren, and Mr. Hendrick in particular, is a dream come true. I’m grateful for the opportunity and really looking forward to it.” 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 Coca-Cola 600 and maybe even a win or two that day.”
The 30-year-old Larson, of California, has proven successful at the NASCAR Cup Series level, winning the 2021 series title, 19-point drive races, the 2019 and 2021 All-Star race and the 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award. 2021 Larson won 10 points and led more laps in a season (2,581) than any driver since 1995.
In partnership with McLaren Racing, the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 will mark the premiere event as NTT INDYCAR SERIES owner for Hendrick, whose stock car teams have won a record 291 points in Cup Series races. He is also the winningest owner in NASCAR at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with 10 Cup Series victories on the 2.5-mile ovals.
“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 perform at the Indy 500 as a car owner. A collaboration like this was just what we needed to make it happen, and luckily the stars lined up. We are 100 percent committed to doing it right and look forward to working with Zack (Brown) and his organization” .
Entering his twelfth season in the NASCAR Cup Series and third with Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Larson has consistently expressed interest in racing the Indy 500 with Team Chevy.
Pending an additional 2023 entry, Larson will become the fifth driver to run “The Double” on Memorial Day weekend by racing the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. His double would be the first since Kurt Busch raced both events in 2014.
Widely regarded as a world-class talent, Larson has an extensive resume of stock racing success with over 400 wins in a variety of disciplines and vehicle types on dirt and pavement. His ingenuity and experience complement McLaren Racing’s investment, strategy and competition in various racing series.
“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 Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing. “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.”