Roger Penske says Kyle Larson should get a waiver for NASCAR playoffs after Indy 500
Roger Penske wants to see Kyle Larson in the NASCAR playoffs despite not completing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double. While speaking with NBC Sports, the IndyCar owner said that Larson should get a waiver for the NASCAR playoffs since he missed the Coca-Cola 600 due to weather.
“That’s up to NASCAR,” Penske said. “I mean, certainly I want to see him not lose anything by coming to the Indy 500 for sure. But Larson came here with Hendrick Motorsports to race, they did a great job and I think it’s great for the sport. It’s really good for NASCAR. I know they will handle it properly.”
Larson competed in the Indy 500 which was delayed for four hours on Sunday. After the race, Larson flew to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 but did not compete because that race was called due to rain and lighting.
Larson already secured a playoff spot since he has won two races this year. But since he missed the Coca-Cola 600, Larson will need a waiver to be eligible to have a chance to win the Cup Series championship.
It’s likely Larson will get the waiver since weather prevented him from racing. Joey Logano talked about Larson’s situation on Sirius XM Radio and said while he chose IndyCar over NASCAR, Logano loved that Larson tried to complete two big races in one day.
Joey Logano gets ‘honest’ about Kyle Larson’s situation
“This scenario — let’s be honest here. Super cool,” Logano said. “What Kyle Larson did running the double — awesome. He got backed into the worst position possible for the scenario that happened, right? Because of the rain and delay of the Indy 500, all that. But he chose — he decided the Indy 500 is more important than the Coca-Cola 600. He made that decision, or his people, whoever, he is part of it. He put IndyCar ahead of NASCAR, that’s the facts, right or wrong. I don’t know. Waiver or not. I don’t know. I’m not here to make that decision, but the facts are, he thought IndyCar racing was a bigger race than NASCAR racing that day.
“I don’t know where you go with that. Don’t know where you go. I don’t know where to add to that either. I don’t want to make anyone mad sitting here. I’m just spitting the facts here of that’s what happened. I’m not taking anything away from what Larson did. I thought it was the most badass thing that anyone can do, to try to run both those races in one day.”
On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this story.