Kyle Larson Stays Resolute After Indy 500 Qualifying Crash

Kyle Larson showed strong self-belief after a crash during Indianapolis 500 qualifying practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The incident occurred on Fast Friday, May 16, 2025, in difficult conditions with wind gusts up to 40 mph and track temperatures reaching close to 90 degrees.

Larson was driving his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Racing Chevrolet during preparations for his second Indy 500 start. This event is part of the Memorial Day Weekend Double, where he is also slated to compete in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

With only 90 minutes left in the session, Larson spun and made contact with the SAFER barriers in Turns 3 and 4. The car struck the wall twice before stopping, but the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion was able to climb out without help.

Larson explained that he felt the car give way from the front, catching him off guard. He left the car without injury and stayed upbeat about his prospects. For more details on the SAFER barrier technology, see this overview from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

He joked that he’d now experienced both types of impacts—once hitting the wall nose-first in April’s open test and now backing it in during Fast Friday. Larson managed just three timed laps at speed on Friday as Arrow McLaren held him back until late in the session.

Despite the short time on track, he broke the 230-mph barrier, demonstrating strong pace on a day when teams ran with qualifying engine boost. His team quickly replaced the damaged front and rear wings, and he returned for a final shakedown to ensure everything was working before heading into qualifying.

All drivers dealt with challenging weather. Many agreed that Saturday’s forecast—with cooler conditions and possible storms clearing overnight—should improve lap times during qualifying. For others in motorsports, adapting to changing conditions has been highlighted in recent articles like the Ron Capps Route66 win.

Larson said the spin was unexpected, but he felt his car’s balance was close and believed adjustments would have him in good shape for the next round. Even after the crash, he was ready to reset and approach qualifying with confidence.

The current Indy 500 qualifying format spans two days. Drivers each complete four-lap average runs on Saturday. For a deeper dive into the qualifying process, check out IndyCar’s official rules.

The 12 fastest advance to Sunday’s next segment, and the slowest four will fight for the final three starting spots. Positions 13 through 30 are locked in on Saturday.

The Firestone Fast Six on Sunday decides the pole position. Fast Friday saw Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin deliver the fastest lap at 233.854 mph.

Six-time series champ Scott Dixon came next, clocking 232.561 mph, and led all drivers in four-lap averages at 232.386 mph. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou ranked third in single-lap times.

Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta finished up the top five. Both Palou and McLaughlin remained near the top in four-lap averages as well.

Larson, who also drives the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in NASCAR and leads the Cup Series points, expects to get enough track time on Saturday to make the best of qualifying. He said he was not overly worried, calling the crash a minor setback and predicting that better weather and a little added downforce would help him get up to speed right away. His ability to bounce back is reminiscent of top performers highlighted recently, such as in the Brittany Force Redemption Route66 coverage.

As qualifying begins, all eyes remain on Larson as he chases success in both the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series during a busy weekend. For more on Larson’s NASCAR career, visit Hendrick Motorsports’ official site.