Kyle Larson faces criticism after Indy 500 controversy, following a disappointing weekend in which he crashed out of both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, with fans expressing frustration over his conduct and results. The NASCAR and IndyCar driver’s actions have sparked considerable debate after a viral video and several heated reactions on social media.
Larson Struggles with “The Double” and Faces Disappointment
Kyle Larson’s ambitious bid to compete in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same weekend did not go as planned. On Sunday’s Indy 500, Larson exited the race after a crash on Lap 91, dashing his hopes for a strong finish before returning to Charlotte. Despite leading early in the Coca-Cola 600, Larson was caught up in another wreck on Lap 246, resulting in a disappointing day. The Charlotte outcome was particularly tough, given his promising start at Texas Motor Speedway earlier in May, where he had celebrated a significant NASCAR Xfinity Series win.
Split Reactions from NASCAR and IndyCar Fans
NASCAR supporters generally sympathized with Larson after his rough result at the Coca-Cola 600. However, the mood within the IndyCar community was decidedly less forgiving, especially after a contentious moment during the Indy 500 broadcast. Following a crash involving Scott McLaughlin, a member of Larson’s team was heard saying an expletive and expressing frustration on the team radio. Shortly after, Larson was filmed giving his team a thumbs up, a gesture that quickly drew attention online.
IndyCar fans responded strongly on social media, openly criticizing both Larson’s performance and the perceived attitude of his team. Their reaction suggested that standards of conduct differ significantly between the NASCAR and IndyCar audiences.
Fan Comments Highlight Backlash
The negative sentiment was evident across social media platforms as numerous fans voiced their displeasure with how the situation was handled by both Larson and his team.
“Ok McLaren time to stop giving out this charity spot and maybe give it to somebody more experienced in Indy,”
—Fan on X
“I do not want to see that guy in IndyCar again,”
—Fan on X
“This is a case in point for why I’m not a fan of Larson,”
—Fan on X
“Never was a Larson fan to begin with (in NASCAR or for the 500) but things like this don’t help his case,”
—Social media user
Larson Reflects on the Challenge of Racing Both Events
Following the back-to-back crashes, Larson spoke candidly about the difficulty of attempting “The Double” on the same weekend. In his post-race comments, he admitted feeling worn down by the endeavor and questioned whether the scheduling allowed for a fair attempt at both races.
“The Double is just a tough undertaking,”
—Kyle Larson, Driver
“I think the window of time is too tight. Even if I didn’t wreck (at Indy), I don’t think I would have made it here in time and probably would have had to end that race short anyway.”
—Kyle Larson, Driver
Despite his disappointment, Larson expressed a lingering desire to compete at the Indy 500 again in the future if circumstances allow.
Context and Reactions to Larson’s Recent Results
Larson’s weekend began optimistically after recent successes, including a victory at Texas Motor Speedway, but ended with visible frustration and renewed scrutiny from different corners of the motorsport community. Figures like announcers, fans, and media personalities have weighed in, debating whether Larson should return to IndyCar and how teams allocate race spots to drivers from other series.
As the reactions continue to unfold, this controversy may influence how teams and sponsors approach crossover efforts between NASCAR and IndyCar, and whether high-profile drivers like Larson will attempt such demanding double-duty weekends in the future.
