Kyle Larson Gains Confidence with Strong Day 2 Indy 500 Practice

Kyle Larson continued to build momentum on the second day of Indianapolis 500 practice, showing steady improvement as he adjusts to IndyCar racing. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion logged 103 laps around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, more than double his total from the previous day.

Larson’s fastest lap was clocked at 223.985 mph, a clear sign of growth and added speed ahead of the May 25 race. Even with rain briefly halting the action three times during Wednesday’s six-hour session, Larson’s No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet team stayed productive on the track.

He notched his best lap in the final ten minutes, underlining his adaptation to the unique demands of the Indy 500. The presence of fellow NASCAR star Joey Logano, a guest of Team Penske, added to the day’s significance.

Logano watched closely from trackside and was impressed by how fast Larson was learning, calling him “a freak” for his ability to quickly master different cars. Larson is now one of just five drivers to attempt the famous Memorial Day “Double”—racing both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in one day.

Only Tony Stewart has completed all 1,100 miles. Last year, Larson finished 18th at Indianapolis but was unable to run the full NASCAR race in Charlotte because weather delays made him late, and rain ended the event before he could get on track.

Logano, who has never attempted the double-header, said he prefers focusing entirely on NASCAR competition. He and Larson talked about car similarities, noting that NASCAR’s Next Gen cars handle much more like IndyCars than in the past, mainly due to changes in downforce, tire profiles, and overall feel.

Reigning NTT IndyCar champion Alex Palou set the pace on Day 2 with an impressive 227.546 mph lap. That was nearly two mph better than anyone else in the 34-car field.

Will Power, the 2018 Indy 500 winner, posted the second-fastest time at 225.584 mph, while Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, and Connor Daly rounded out the top five on the charts. After practice, Larson said he felt more comfortable and confident in the car compared to last year or the previous open tests.

He talked about learning the finer points of pit stops and how he expects to get up to speed faster this time. Larson admitted to making some mistakes during the start procedures last year but is working on fixing those for 2025.

Practice is set to continue Thursday with another six-hour session, followed by “Fast Friday” before the weekend’s two days of qualifying to determine the starting field. Last year, Larson started fifth in his first Indy 500 attempt and is aiming for more this season as he gets more comfortable each day behind the wheel.