Kyle Larson has had a remarkable NASCAR Cup Series career with 32 wins under his belt, but his IndyCar endeavors have been rather underwhelming. The 2021 Cup Series champion had a P18 finish at the Indy 500 last year. As a result, he’s desperate for a better result this time around.
Larson is attempting the audacious ‘Double’ again this year, but right now, he is focused on maintaining tire control in a tricky Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. In a recent interview, he revealed his grip tactics heading into the Indy 500 race.
Kyle Larson Opens Up on Grip Struggles Behind His Indy 500 Setbacks
Tires have a defining influence in motorsport, whether it’s NASCAR or IndyCar. We’ve seen how Goodyear’s low-grip compounds wreak havoc on short tracks like Phoenix and North Wilkesboro. But at Indianapolis, Larson faces a unique grip challenge that demands a different approach.
During the Indy 500 Open Test on April 24, Kyle Larson lost grip and slammed into the wall. Then, just five days ago, during Fast Friday practice, disaster struck again.
In the final 90 minutes, Larson’s No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet struck the SAFER barriers between Turns 3 and 4 at the iconic 2.5-mile oval, first with the rear, then the front of the car. Two crashes in quick succession have left the NASCAR star reflecting deeply on what went wrong.
The real culprit, according to Larson, was the weather. Last Friday’s practice saw soaring temperatures near 90 degrees and wind gusts exceeding 40 MPH. During a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” he explained exactly how those conditions affected him:
“When it’s cooler, the track’s got more grip. The drivers make less mistakes, the speeds just kind of stay faster. So yeah, typically, I prefer warmer conditions. When the surface gets hot, your tires get hotter, and it just becomes slimy.”
Larson also talked about how he handles the situation. He added:
“I think it probably depends on the track and the type of car I might be in. Yeah, like, you’re always studying like your competitors, your previous races, you see what moves work, like restarts, especially.”
After his practice crash, the Arrow McLaren crew worked quickly to fit a new front and rear wing to get Larson back on track. Despite their best efforts, he could only qualify 21st. The result prompted some honest reflection from the NASCAR star on the steep learning curve in IndyCar:
“Restarts is where it gets crazy. You know, the field’s bunched up, it’s hard to pass, and you’re trying to make the most of the restarts. It’ll fan out 3 or 4-wide. The draft is like crazy, in IndyCar, which is weird to feel.”
“In stock cars, we have drafting, but in IndyCar, it’s like you get in that pocket of air and it’s a full boost. It gets quiet… when you pull out, you have all the wind on top of your car, and it gets loud, the car starts moving around a little bit,” Larson concluded.