Kyle Larson Opens Up on Potentially Banging Wheels With Jimmie Johnson at Indy 500

Published 11/08/2021, 11:24 AM EST

Kyle Larson is well-known for being a very versatile driver. This is because he has had several travails in the dirt racing arena and competed in other racing series, and been successful. Now, the newly-crowned Cup Series champion hopes to add another feather in his cap, the Indianapolis 500.

In the press conference, he was asked about a possible IndyCar entry into the 500. In response, the #5 Hendrick Motorsports driver said, “I’m open to anything. Logistically, it’s just a tough thing to do. I would want to go there and know I’ve got a chance to win.”

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Kyle Larson on #Indy500: “I’m open to anything. Logistically, it’s just a tough thing to do. I would want to go there and know I’ve got a chance to win.”
Says he doesn’t know if Rick Hendrick would allow him.
Says he’s kind of tired of being asked about it all year.
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) November 8, 2021

However, he did confess that he isn’t sure whether Rick Hendrick would be willing to let him go. Additionally, he insisted that he was getting annoyed at being asked the same question over and over again.

How did Kyle Larson clinch the title at Phoenix?

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Already, Kyle had a great advantage when he started on pole position, but it still needed to be capitalized and he did so emphatically. Speaking after the race, he said, “There were so many points of this race where I did not think that we were going to win and without my pit crew on that last stop we would not be standing right here. They are the true winners of this race, they’re true champions, I’m just blessed to be part of this group.”

Behind him were Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Chase Elliott was a little further behind in 5th place, behind Ryan Blaney. The race lead swapped on several occasions, with Martin Truex Jr winning the opening stage. However, Larson was able to bounce back and snatch the second stage win, before ultimately storming to Victory Lane.

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There were plenty of yellow flag moments, which threatened to upset the race leaders’ rhythms. From the final restart until the chequered flag, Larson’s biggest headache was 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr., who pressed him all the way to the finish line. Fortunately for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, he managed to dig deep and fend him off until the end.

Kyle Larson Emulates Jimmie Johnson’s Crazy Record at Phoenix

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Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.