Kyle Larson‘s apology to Scott McLaughlin after the Indy 500 drew attention, following a tense exchange sparked by a thumbs-up gesture after McLaughlin’s early crash. The incident, which unfolded at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, set the stage for friction between the Team Penske driver and the NASCAR Cup Series star.
A Collision Sets Off Emotions at Indianapolis
Scott McLaughlin, representing Team Penske, faced disappointment during the pace lap of the iconic Brickyard race. While working to bring his tires up to temperature, McLaughlin lost control, skidding off and hitting the barriers. The crash resulted in the storied Indianapolis 500 starting under a yellow flag, and elicited a frustrated response from Kyle Larson, who was aiming to complete the historic Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 doubleheader on the same day.
As McLaughlin’s car sat out of commission, Larson expressed his annoyance via team radio, peppered with expletives. Passing his rival’s stranded vehicle, Larson added a thumbs-up gesture, amplifying the moment’s intensity. The gesture was later highlighted by McLaughlin on social media, who appeared to address Larson’s sarcasm with a public quip.
“Guess I’m out of the best driver in the world talks. 🤷♂️”
This online remark hinted at growing animosity and ignited speculation about a lasting rivalry between the two drivers.
Kyle Larson Reaches Out to Mend Fences
In the aftermath of the race, the atmosphere shifted as McLaughlin explained that Larson had reached out to him privately. Ahead of the Detroit Grand Prix, McLaughlin revealed details of their interaction, indicating that Larson had expressed remorse for his actions and attempted to put the matter to rest.
“He texted me and we’re all good. I mean, I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Kyle. I just love poking s*** at everyone too. So my tweet was about making fun of that whole conversation because that’s been such a big piece, but also I wasn’t going to let him off the hook with that either. That’s the type of person I am,” McLaughlin stated while sharing his thoughts in a post on X by IndyCar on FOX.
“To his credit, Kyle texted me and apologized. He didn’t mean it. I don’t know — he’s a really respectful racer and kudos to him for even reaching out. He didn’t need to. He doesn’t care about my IndyCar award, so yeah.”
McLaughlin emphasized understanding the pressures Larson faced, especially the logistics involved in attempting both premier racing events in a single day. He acknowledged that the disrupted schedule and tension made the situation more challenging for Larson.
“Yeah, I understand it. I mean, they know it’s logistically tough regardless, and when you have a delay like that — I heard it was only 40 minutes. I mean, 40 minutes is pretty close. So maybe the two series can come together and talk about different times or whatever. But at the same time, you know, Indy is Indy and 600 is 600. If you want to run the risk of doing that, that’s up to you.”
Larson’s participation in the double meant any disruption at the Indy 500 shortened his window to rejoin the Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina. Despite McLaughlin’s mishap narrowing that gap, Larson also encountered difficulties of his own when he downshifted during a race restart on lap 91, hampering his efforts in Indianapolis before he traveled to compete in NASCAR’s marquee event.
Aftermath for Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske
McLaughlin used social media to reflect on his experience and share how the dramatic start at Indy affected him and his supporters. The New Zealander, already a known name in global motorsports, became the first of several drivers to exit the race early, his incident casting a shadow over Team Penske’s prospects as another teammate, Josef Newgarden, retired soon after due to technical issues.
“I truly don’t know what happened. Just touched the throttle and around we went. I’m absolutely gutted for my crew, @Team_Penske @Pennzoil and all of our fans. We’ll be back stronger next year. I’m sorry. See ya in Detroit. ✌️”
The challenging Indianapolis round sees McLaughlin shifting his focus to the Detroit Grand Prix of Michigan, an event where success has thus far eluded him—his best finish was a seventh-place result in 2023. As the quick transition from one high-stakes race to the next continues, both McLaughlin and Larson must refocus after the emotional highs and lows of the Indy 500.
The Broader Impact on Both Drivers
The exchange between Kyle Larson and Scott McLaughlin, culminating in the much-discussed apology, highlights the mounting pressures faced by elite drivers attempting to balance demanding race calendars. The Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double remains one of motorsport’s toughest challenges, as shown by the tight timing and unpredictable events on the track.
For Team Penske, and for drivers like McLaughlin and Larson, the incident underscores both the intensity of competition and the importance of respect and communication off the track. While the immediate fallout seems resolved, their interaction has sparked broader debate about how racing schedules and emotions are managed in high-stakes situations. All eyes now turn to Michigan’s Detroit Grand Prix to see how the rivalry—and camaraderie—between these top drivers evolves next.
