This Double No Trouble as Kyle Larson Shines at Indy, North Wilkesboro

If there is a conclusion to be reached about Indy 500 activities to date, it is this: Keep your eye on Kyle Larson.

Despite the problems associated with bouncing back and forth between Indiana and the Carolinas and trying to mix stock cars with open wheel vehicles, Larson has performed superbly. He has adapted quickly to the totally different animal that is the IndyCar, and the rocket speeds on the Indy straights have seemed to be no problem for him.

Larson, who finished fourth in the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday at North Wilkesboro, plans to race in the 500 and then fly to Concord, North Carolina to race in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, thus becoming the latest driver to attempt the Indy-Charlotte double.

Larson’s Fast 12 speed of 232.788 made him the fastest rookie in one-lap speed, and his 232.846 run in the Fast Six made him the second-fastest rookie in a four-lap average behind the 233.100 Tony Stewart (another “double” driver) recorded in 1996.

“Kyle Larson has shown what a talent he is behind the wheel of an Indy Car, taking on the four toughest qualifying laps in motorsports with skill,” said Chevrolet official Jim Campbell.

Larson is busy proving that he can drive virtually any sort of motorsports vehicle and not shy away from running with the front pack. The 500 will be the latest – and biggest – test of his all-around skill set.