Recap our live updates from The Athletic at the Indianapolis 500 here.
Doesn’t matter if it’s in a stock car, Indy car, a sprint car or whatever vehicle Larson is driving on a given day.
Last year, Mother Nature conspired against Larson by having the same weather front dump rain in Indianapolis and Charlotte.
Then, a justifiably frustrated Larson could at least take solace that he was likely to attempt the “Double” a second time.
Earlier in the day at Indianapolis, Larson lost control on a restart, spinning up the track into traffic, then the outside wall.
Here’s a recap of The Athletic’s live coverage of the Indianapolis 500.
There are times when you will go too far if you’re eager to ride the fine line of car control as much as Kyle Larson does. Larson is an exceptional talent, but what really sets him apart is his capacity to pick himself up after a failure.
Regardless, whatever occurred did. Reliving an error that cannot be fixed takes little time. It makes no difference whether Larson is driving a sprint car, Indy car, stock car, or any other kind of vehicle on any given day.
Larson’s capacity for forgetfulness was tested on Sunday. He started as a key player in two well-known races, the Indianapolis 500 and the 600-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which is NASCAR’s longest event. He crashed out in both races. No one, least of all Larson, anticipated how the day would go.
After the fact, Larson said, “Try to just move on and get back to doing your job and get back to racing.”. Although things didn’t go as planned today, you shouldn’t be negatively impacted for too long. “”.
When a showcase moment falls short of expectations, whether because of a performance or uncontrollable circumstances, it can cause excruciating disappointment.
Larson’s attempt to compete in the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 “Double,” a mental, physical, and logistical ordeal that involves two different racetracks in two states and two very different cars, has unfortunately been the same for him for the past two years. The driver must navigate a variety of situations in order to complete 1,100 miles, something that only one driver has accomplished.
The same weather front that dumped rain on Charlotte and Indianapolis last year worked against Larson. Due to a series of circumstances, he was only able to finish 500 miles on the most important racing day, and he was not even given the opportunity to get into his Hendrick Motorsports stock car and compete in the NASCAR nightcap.
At least Larson, who was understandably frustrated, could then find comfort in the fact that he was probably going to try the “Double” again. The fact that he had wowed at Indianapolis further strengthened the argument that he is the world’s greatest all-around driver. The rain didn’t stop him from proving himself.
However, the feelings were different now after a difficult day that included two crashes. A day that started out feeling hopeful ended with a feeling of emptiness. Nobody believed Larson could win both races; even that is too much to expect from the best driver in the world, especially in the 500. However, it seemed plausible that he would have a strong run in Indianapolis, followed by an even better run at Charlotte, and possibly even a victory.
However, nobody anticipated this, as they found themselves outside an infield care facility for the second time in seven hours.
After his driver, Ross Chastain, won the NASCAR race, Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, said, “My heart breaks for Kyle.”.
During a restart earlier in the day at Indianapolis, Larson lost control and spun up the track into traffic before colliding with the outside wall. He stood there for a while after exiting his car, as if thinking about what had happened. Charlotte, a track that perfectly suits his stock-car skill set, was at least something to look forward to. He was regarded as the general favorite there and would start second.
However, things fell apart soon after the green flag was raised. More mistakes might have been made as a result of the adrenaline and frustration from the start of the day. When pushing hard, a great driver might make a mistake like that. He struck the wall in the early going before spinning out of the lead on Lap 42. Later, he was taken in a multi-vehicle collision that sent him to the garage much earlier than expected.
It was not intended to be. Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, remarked, “It was a difficult day.”.
In contrast to a year ago, Larson was unable to anticipate Sunday night’s match knowing he would have another chance to compete in the Duke. This two-year agreement, which Hendrick mediated, has now been completed. On Sunday night, he and Gordon were both unsure about the possibility.
There are no guarantees, but it might happen again.
Larson stated that while he would love to run the Indianapolis 500 once more, he believes that the Double is simply too difficult logistically. “”.
It has become evident over the last two years how difficult it is for everyone to compete in both races, even for a company like Hendrick with so many resources at its disposal. Both on and off the track, there is not much room for error.
“It’s difficult to even comprehend it,” Gordon remarked. We’ve tried it twice so far, and neither time has gone as planned. I don’t think we’re considering it at the moment, but never say never. “.”.
Would Larson’s first two attempts at the 1,100-mile odyssey be less disappointing if he tried again? Would the third time be the charm?
With time, the answers to these questions will become clear. Immediately following the incident, Larson had to get over the sensation of being hit in the stomach. Go over twice.
Larson remarked, “I just hate the way the day went.”. “I wish I could just change everything and try again tomorrow, but that’s not going to happen. “.”.
(Top image: Jared C. of Kyle Larson on Sunday prior to NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. Tilton/Getty Images.
