Larson Finishes 11th in Indy Practice, Gains Spots After Penalties

Kyle Larson finished 11th in practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, showing steady speed as teams prepared for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. The session on Monday, held in weather similar to the forecast for race day, saw Alex Palou post the fastest time of 226.765 mph, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Takuma Sato followed closely behind on the charts.

Larson, the current NASCAR Cup Series points leader, drove the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet during Monday’s two-hour practice. He completed 82 laps, often staying within the top 10 on the speed chart.

His team used the final minutes to work on pit stops, hoping to gain an edge for the race. The car had undergone repairs after a crash in the last practice before qualifying, and had only managed two four-lap qualifying runs leading up to this session.

After qualifying 21st on Saturday, Larson learned his starting position would improve to 19th. This move up came after penalties were given to Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden and Will Power.

Officials found illegal modified attenuators on their cars just before they were set to qualify. Both drivers were removed from the Fast 12 session and assigned starting spots at the back of the grid, with Newgarden dropping to 32nd and Power to 33rd. For more details on IndyCar regulations, you can refer to the official IndyCar rulebook.

Team Penske received a $100,000 fine for each car, and the teams lost qualifying points and their race strategists for the big event.

Scott McLaughlin, Penske’s third driver, also had a rough weekend with a crash before Sunday’s qualifying. No illegal parts were found on his car, so he will start in 10th position.

Despite the setbacks, Power and Newgarden still ran seventh and eighth fastest in the Monday practice, proving they will be threats on race day.

Larson is one of only five drivers attempting to race the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day. The Charlotte event is set for Sunday evening, soon after the Indianapolis race. For more on the history of “The Double,” check out this NASCAR Hall of Fame article.

Last year, Larson started fifth at Indy and finished 18th, gaining valuable experience for this year’s attempt. His focus and growing confidence were apparent throughout the practices.

Monday’s practice also highlighted rookie Robert Shwartzman, who is the first rookie since 1981 to take the pole for the Indy 500. He finished 26th on the day’s speed chart as he focused on race-day setup. For more on rookie performances at the Indy 500, visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway history page.

The final chance for teams to prepare will be Carburetion Day practice on Friday, a two-hour session followed by the Pit Stop Challenge. Teams are making their final adjustments as the field gets ready for one of the biggest weekends in motorsports. For additional insights into race preparations, the SAE International motorsports engineering resources provide valuable technical perspectives.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.