In a thrilling turn of events, the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ standout rookie of the year has been on fire this season. He’s even tamed the notorious Darlington race track, a feat he hadn’t achieved before. Yet whispers abound that the Hendrick Motorsports’ ace will be facing a fresh challenge. While diverting his focus amidst the Cup Series might raise eyebrows, perhaps Kyle Larson is craving a change after a P31 and P15 finish at Texas and Talladega, respectively.

In August, the grapevine buzzed with news. The driver of the No. 5 Chevy is keen on marking his debut in the IndyCar Series in 2024, piloting a fourth McLaren-Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the illustrious 108th Indy 500 next May. But it’s not all smooth sailing—murmurs suggest Kyle Larson could be grappling with some challenges in this new venture.

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Kyle Larson’s 2024 calendar will be a whirlwind; he’s slated to be the first since Kurt Busch in 2014 to tackle the 1,100-mile Memorial Weekend double-header: racing in the Indy 500 and then speeding off to NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day. But before that, there’s the critical rookie orientation—a rite of passage. Echoing Busch’s journey, Kyle Larson will join the likes of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Armstrong and Linus Lundqvist, plus Meyer Shank Racing’s Tom Blomqvist, in the Rookie Orientation Program.

Kyle Larson has already taken a virtual spin in GM’s simulator and found familiarity during his seat fitting at McLaren’s Indianapolis workshops. In a taste of what’s to come, Larson stepped onto the Indianapolis 500 grounds in mid-May. “Nervous” was how he described his feelings about eventually hopping into the car. Under the expansive shade of the Arrow McLaren banner, with the robust support of Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson will drive to impress. 

“I haven’t gotten anything yet,” Kyle Larson candidly admitted to Sportsnaut. “I’ll be in the sim on Monday, and I’m sure I’ll get a lot of that information then, but yeah, I don’t even know what it is, what we do, or how long the day goes”.

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The 31-year-old further shared his concerns, “It’s tough because it’s in the middle of our playoffs, and I’m not entirely invested in that yet. I guess I’m just supposed to pass a test. Like we’re not working on the cars, right? But I’m sure it will be fine, and I’ll figure everything out.” But what’s in the Rookie Orientation Program that’s caused a stir in the heart of a champ like Kyle Larson?

Unpacking the Rookie Orientation Program

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The Rookie Orientation Program unfolds in three thrilling stages, each more demanding than the last. To progress, a driver must flawlessly navigate through each stage before being granted the exhilarating privilege of racing in a group. Phase 1: 10 laps at 205-210 mph, Phase 2: 15 laps at 210–215 mph and Phase 3: 15 laps at 215-plus mph.

Interestingly, Kyle Larson was spared the customary rookie initiation of turning laps at the Texas Motor Speedway or a similar oval. Why? His impressive history with oval tracks earned him this exemption. Given Larson’s jam-packed racing calendar, which spans from NASCAR to the High Limit Sprint Car Series (which he co-runs with the four-time World of Outlaws champion, Brad Sweet), Kyle Larson gets to run his laps on Thursday, following the other rookies.

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A trip down memory lane reminds us of Kurt Busch, who once stood in Kyle Larson’s shoes. Maneuvering an Andretti Autosport vehicle, Kurt Busch blitzed through the orientation, achieving a whopping top speed of 218.210 mph. His trials? 10 laps at 200–205 mph, another 15 laps ranging from 205-209 mph, and the final feat of 15 laps surging over 210 mph. Well, there seems to be a slight tweak in the speed benchmarks since Busch’s time. Given this shift and amidst the whirlwind of Larson’s Cup Series commitments, the burning question is: Can Kyle Larson ace this challenge?