Jeff Gordon Admits Feeling ‘Some Nerves’ as Kyle Larson Launches Indy 500 Bid

Jeff Gordon is at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, not to race but to watch Kyle Larson qualify for the Indy 500. Evidently, Gordon was excited to see Larson qualify. As day one of the qualifying session drew close, the executive couldn’t help but feel a sudden surge of excitement and nervousness for his team’s racer. Coupled with a not-so-good first qualifying attempt, it’s understandable why Gordon would feel nervous. However, everything turned out for good as the #5 racer successfully qualified for the main event.

Gordon supporting Kyle Larson at the Indy 500

As Kyle Larson geared up for his debut Indianapolis 500 qualifying, racing icon, Jeff Gordon was standing on the sidelines and feeling jittery. As a four-time NASCAR champion, Gordon has had his fair share of his racing victories, but there is one challenge that he has never attempted: The Double. But, it’s not like Rick Hendrick didn’t try to persuade Gordon to attempt the feat. “Jeff and I, Jeff Gordon and I talked about it, but he wasn’t really keen,” revealed Rick Hendrick. While that plan didn’t come through, it seems Gordon is now more content cheering for his team’s driver from the sidelines, as he watches Larson prepare for one of the most historic moments of his career.

To show his support, Gordon took to Instagram and shared a small message for the #5 racer and Arrow McLaren ahead of Indy 500 qualifying day. “Man, it’s so cool to be here in Indianapolis. This place is so special. Qualifying day at the Indianapolis 500. Kyle Larson, this Arrow McClaren, IndyCars.com team doing an amazing job. So, a little bit up and down, certainly some nerves, but in the end they put down a great lap, and tomorrow we’ll go for that front row and maybe even that point,” the HMS vice-chairman shared.

Gordon’s support certainly worked wonders as, despite all the anxieties, Larson and his team delivered a stellar performance during day 1, where he qualified P6, placing him in the run for his debut IndyCar win.

Larson qualifies for Fast 12 at Indy 500

Kyle Larson’s journey to the historic ‘Double Duty’ began with a bang and some initial issues. As the current points leader in the NASCAR Cup Series, Larson is having a blast in his debut Indy 500 and his qualifying performance on Saturday is the proof that he is off to a flying start.

Larson drove his Arrow McLaren and qualified it in the sixth fastest position, posting a 232.563 mph average. With his spot secured for the next round despite battling some engine issues during his first qualifying attempt, Larson will be joining 11 other drivers for the next round, and run for pole position. And even Larson was satisfied with his performance. “I’ll definitely take that,” mentioned the driver, as he decoded what went down with his qualifying run getting cut short. “There’s some alarm that popped up on the engine cut a bunch of power…I don’t know what happened,” he shared.

But even those problems didn’t dash his hopes. “Honestly, I feel like the nerves were a lot less going the second time, even not completing that first run,” Larson said. On a similar note, Jeff Gordon also heaved a sigh of relief, saying, “Now we can breathe.”

All eyes are on the HMS racer as he advances toward his IndyCar aspirations, and potentially the possibility of witnessing a rookie driver take pole position for the main race next weekend.

Could this be the year when Kyle Larson defies all odds and emerges as a main contender for victory? Only time will tell.