Ahead of his IndyCar Series debut in the 108th Running of the Indy 500 on May 26, Kyle Larson finally has his helmet.
Larson showed off his new lid Wednesday on X which he will wear during the race, featuring the trademark Brickyard start/finish line at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The helmet was designed by Indocil Art, a custom helmet shop based in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, is driving the No. 17 Rick Hendrick-backed car as part of an Arrow McLaren entry in the Indy 500. He is currently in Indianapolis attempting to get some practice laps in for the first time this month. Tuesday’s rainy conditions shortened opening day practice to 23 minutes, 37 seconds, and the weather didn’t improve much overnight. At some point, Larson hopes to get on the racetrack in preparation for the event.
“I was hoping the weather would be good today, but turns out, it’s not,” Larson said Wednesday. “Yeah, would love to get on track at some point. I’m sure we will at some point today. I wish it was soon.”
Kyle Larson inching closer to pulling Double Duty
Larson did take part in an Indy 500 test at the Brickyard last month, turning in the second-fastest lap behind defending winner Josef Newgarden. When it comes to dealing with the busyness on pit road, Larson still has some questions.
“To me, everything happens so quick because it’s not natural to me,” Larson said, via Kyle McFadden of FloRacing. “Leaving the pit stall for the install lap, everybody leaves at the same time. And, like, people are already getting to my outside on pit lane. I’m like, ‘What the hell?’ I thought we’d, like, get up to speed here together.
“Then, too, you do your install stuff and pit and whatever. Then you go out, and they’re already at speed, and you’re wide open as soon as you’re on the track. Like, there’s just no time to build up to it because they’re all comfortable. They can go hard right away where I would like to build up to it a little bit slower, but you can’t. All that will become more natural with each rep that I get.”
Beyond getting ready for the Indy 500, Larson has his normal commitments in the NASCAR Cup Series. Larson is slated to participate in the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway this Sunday and then will attempt to become the fifth driver to complete the Indy-Charlotte Double on May 26.
Though it sounds like a lot of moving parts, it’s hardly a big deal for Larson.
“I’m not stressed out about logistics at all,” Larson said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “I feel like we got a good plan. So yeah, I feel like I’m just, ‘Tell me where to be, tell me when to get in the car, tell me which car I’m getting in’ and we’ll go [from there].
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