Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2024 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.
Kyle Larson was one of the best Indianapolis Motor Speedway stories in 2024.
Larson Mania gripped hold of the Month of May as the NASCAR Cup Series champion became one of five drivers ever to attempt “The Double” of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day joining Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, John Andretti and Kurt Busch.
California native Larson qualified fifth and finished 18th in the rain-delayed Indy 500 last May en route to race Rookie of the Year honors. Due to the weather delay in Indianapolis, he was unable to turn a lap in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway before that race ended early due to rain.
Larson enjoyed the experience but not being able to complete all 1,100 miles left a bad taste in his mouth.
Redemption arrived when he came back for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG on July 21. In the NASCAR Cup Series’ return to the oval for the first time since 2020, Larson qualified fifth but later stood triumphantly on Victory Podium and kissed the fabled Yard of Bricks after completing a wild climb to an overtime victory.
Larson won the race under caution in the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet on the second attempt in overtime. Pole sitter Tyler Reddick finished second in the No. 45 The Beast Unleashed Toyota. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney finished third in the No. 12 Menards/Atlas Ford fielded by IMS owner Roger Penske’s team.
2021 Cup Series champion Larson earned the record-extending 11th Brickyard 400 victory for Hendrick Motorsports on a day in which team chairman Rick Hendrick led the field to the green flag as the honorary driver of the Chevrolet Camaro Pace Car.
That was the second IMS victory for Larson, who won the Driven2SaveLives BC39 USAC Midget race in 2021 on The Dirt Track at IMS, a quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3.
Larson’s path to victory this year at the Brickyard was paved by equal parts of aggression and good luck. He drove his way through the field after his last pit stop on Lap 123, slicing up and down the entire width of racing surface to gain ground on the leaders.
He took advantage of fresher tires than the leaders to reach the top five on Lap 149. He was third on the Lap 162 restart that saw leader Brad Keselowski run out of fuel. Larson moved from third to first in the restart order in the inside lane and powered past Blaney in Turn 1 on Lap 162, taking a lead and despite two late race crashes, Larson had enough fuel to cruise around and take the checkered first.
Larson announced in September he will make a second “Double” attempt in 2025.
