Kyle Larson gets ready to run his first IndyCar laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Kyle Larson Makes Highly Anticipated Debut in NTT INDYCAR Series Car

Kyle Larson recently got behind the wheel of the No. 17 Hendrick Chevrolet at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This marked his first-ever experience driving an NTT INDYCAR SERIES vehicle as part of the Rookie Orientation Program.

Double Challenge Weekend for Larson

Larson is aiming to achieve an impressive feat known as the “double” during the Memorial Day weekend. He plans to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 in the morning and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte that same night.

Joining the Ranks of Racing Legends

If Larson successfully completes this double challenge, he will join the esteemed company of drivers such as John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, and Kurt Busch. Busch was the most recent driver to complete the double in 2014. One of the most successful attempts was Tony Stewart’s in 2001, finishing sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte.

Rookie Test and Hybrid Testing

On Thursday, Larson allocated three hours for his rookie test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Following the test, he will head to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday. The track will then become available for Hybrid testing, with drivers such as Colton Herta, Alex Palou, Will Power, and Alexander Rossi participating.

Kyle Larson’s Thoughts on the Rookie Orientation Program

Kyle Larson took the helm of the No. 17 Arrow-McLaren race car, adorned in its striking orange and blue livery with primary sponsorship from HendrickCars.com. Larson’s objective for the day was to partake in the NTT IndyCar Series Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Official Completion of the Program

After finishing the Rookie Orientation Program, Larson received confirmation from IndyCar race control. The exciting moment was captured in a video shared by Nathan Brown of the Indy Star, where the radio announced that Car 17 had completed the program.

What Larson Had to Say

According to USA Today, Kyle Larson said, “It was fun, I guess mostly what I had anticipated in a way. The speed and the grip didn’t feel, thankfully, scarier than I thought it might.”

Larson also added, “But there was — like just how much the car pulls left, and you have to fight it to the right down the straightaways. All of that was something I didn’t expect. The weight of the wheel was a lot lighter than the simulator, but still maybe a little heavier than I expected. Other than that, I think it went smoothly.”

Enjoying the IndyCar Experience

Kyle Larson thoroughly enjoyed his inaugural experience driving an IndyCar, though he noted that it was somewhat different from his previous simulator sessions.