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Kyle Larson qualifies P5 for the Indy 500, leaves for NASCAR All-Star Race

JHby:Jonathan Howard•05/19/24•

Jondean25

Kyle Larson
Gary Mook/For IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

What a weekend it has been for Kyle Larson and he isn’t done yet. The NASCAR champion qualified for the Indy 500 in P5. As a rookie in his first IndyCar action, Larson had a shot at the pole and will start toward the front of next Sunday’s race.

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing will include Kyle Larson. Not only that, but he will have great track position to start. The Indy 500 will challenge him in ways he has not been before. Given how well he’s performed this week, I think he will be just fine.

Now that Larson has finished up his qualifying run, he can head on out to North Wilkesboro for the All-Star Race.

“I think just a great team, really,” Larson explained after his final qualifying run. “They prepared an awesome race car that’s stuck to the race track that also has speed. So, qualifying went a lot better than I ever could have hoped or anticipated. Just proud of everybody at Arrow McLaren, proud of everybody at Hendrick Motorsports that’s been involved in this.

“Huge thank you to Rick Hendrick, Linda, the Jeffs, you know Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, Cliff Daniels, everybody involved, Chad Knaus, everybody involved to make this whole thing possible. Now switch the mindset over to the heavy stock car and try to go figure out North Wilkesboro. So, excited to get there and chase a million bucks.”

Kyle Larson was the top-performing rookie in qualifying. While he didn’t have the speed of his teammate Alexander Rossi or of the Team Penske trio that swept the front row, he was impressive. Larson exceeded expectations and then some this weekend.

Kyle Larson qualifies on second row, Team Penske sweeps

The Penske cars were lightning-fast. Scott McLaughlin won the pole ultimately over Will Power and Josef Newgarden. McLaughlin had an average run of 234.220, an Indy 500 pole record.

In the Indy 500, the pole award is a huge deal. You have to run so many rounds and get through so much to hoist that pole trophy above your head. It’s one of the most coveted pole awards in all of motorsports.

Kyle Larson was great, like I said before. He has another task ahead of him with the NASCAR All-Star Race tonight. A couple of helicopter rides and a private jet flight and he will be right where he needs to be, ready to race.

Today was nice for Larson and McLaughlin. However, everyone has their eyes set on next Sunday when the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 roll around.