Kyle Larson receives special encouragement from Kurt Busch as he faced disappointment during the 2025 Indy 500. Busch, a former NASCAR teammate and upcoming Hall of Famer, reached out publicly on X to recall their shared racing past and motivate Larson to show his abilities on the big stage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Larson competed in the #17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet for the 2025 race, continuing a history with Busch that dates back to their days at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2019 and briefly as teammates again in 2020. Although Larson parted ways with the team mid-season in 2020 after controversy on an iRacing stream, Busch maintained respect for Larson’s skill, believing it could translate to success in the IndyCar Series.
“When we were teammates @CGRTeams (Chip Ganassi Racing) in @nascar in 2019 I knew he was next level. Pure racer who has a feel for a car like no other. This is your stage. Do some racer $h*t!”
This message underscored the bond and rivalry between the two, particularly as both have attempted The Double—racing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch managed sixth place at the Indy 500 in 2014 before engine issues halted his NASCAR effort. Their paths diverged after Larson moved to Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 and Busch joined 23XI Racing, with Busch’s own career ending after a crash at Pocono Raceway in his first season, leading to his retirement in 2023.
For Larson, this marked his second attempt at The Double, joining names like Tony Stewart, John Andretti, and Robby Gordon in attempting to complete 1,100 miles of top-level racing in a single day. At 32 years old, the Californian was aiming to replicate, if not exceed, the achievements of motorsports legends before him.
Larson Reflects on His Crash and Early Elimination from Indy 500
Unfortunately, hopes were dashed for Larson as he spun out exiting turn two on lap 92, delivering a hard blow to the wall and ending his drive in the 2025 Indy 500 early. The crash left lasting disappointment as Larson was unable to finish the event in his #17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Opening up to FOX Sports following the incident, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion described how the crash unfolded, giving insight into his state of mind and the events in the moment.
“It was a bit crazy there on the start. I got like tight behind Takuma (Sato). I was really close to him.”
“I got loose and kind of got all over the place. So I spun. Just hate that I got a little too eager there on the restart and caused that crash. Hate it for everybody else that caught up in it. Just bummed out,” he added.
The incident not only ended Larson’s day but also collected Kyffin Simpson’s #8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda and involved Sting Ray Robb’s #77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevy. Other notable early exiters included Robert Shwartzman, this year’s pole sitter, and Scott McLaughlin from Team Penske.
With only hours separating the disappointment at Indianapolis from the next leg of his challenge, Larson quickly turned his attention to the 600-mile NASCAR race in Charlotte.
“So try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte and just forget about it,” the 32-year-old concluded.
What Lies Ahead for Larson After Indy 500 Setback
After his crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Larson will focus on completing The Double by competing in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET on May 25, Larson, now driving the #5 Hendrick Motorsports car, enters the race as the current NASCAR Cup Series standings leader, boasting three wins in the first 12 races this season.
Kyle Larson’s bid for history this year demonstrates the immense physical and mental challenge drivers face when tackling The Double. Despite the emotional sting of his Indy 500 exit, the support from fellow drivers, especially a respected peer like Kurt Busch, illustrates the camaraderie and competitive spirit alive in the sport. Fans and teams alike will be watching to see if Larson can rebound at Charlotte and continue his standout season in NASCAR.
