Kyle Larson suffers second Indy 500 practice crash in less than a month

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INDIANAPOLIS — Crashing is nothing new for Kyle Larson, the American racing superstar who often seems to find his exceptional speed by dancing on the edge of disaster.

But until recently, crashing in an IndyCar was an unknown sensation after Larson made his initial Indianapolis 500 appearance last year without incident. Now, though, he’s wrecked twice in less than one month — the latest Friday evening during the Indy 500’s “Fast Friday” practice in advance of Saturday’s qualifying session.

After sitting out for much of Friday’s practice while awaiting more ideal conditions on a tricky weather day, Larson was on just his third lap when his car suddenly snapped around entering Turn 3 and crushed the nose into the outside wall. He also crashed April 24 during the Indy 500’s open test session.

Kyle Larson goes around and into the wall at #Indy500 practice. pic.twitter.com/UjkHctURKk

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 16, 2025

“Obviously, you don’t want to crash, but when a crash happens, there’s a lot to be taken from it,” Larson said after emerging from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway medical center. “What I felt, even at the open test to now, those are two different feelings — but at least I felt both of them. It only helps.”

Larson is trying to find the limit of his vehicle because he is making just his second start in an Indy-style open-wheel car. The NASCAR Cup Series points leader is attempting the famed Memorial Day Weekend “Double” (racing both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the same day) and will try to qualify his way into the Indy 500 on Saturday.

He made it through several other long practice sessions this week without incident, but IndyCar teams turned up their turbocharger boost on Friday — which adds 100 horsepower and approximately 10 mph — in preparation for qualifying. Lap speeds on Friday were averaging more than 230 mph with the boosted engines.

“When you turn the boost up for your speed lap, usually it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re flying,’” Larson said. “But that didn’t feel as crazy as what the open test felt like when I turned it up for the first time. So I’m happy the speed didn’t really scare me or anything like that. As long as the car is OK, I think we’ll be fine.”

It was indeed OK, as Larson’s team quickly fixed the damage and gave him an opportunity to get back on track before practice ended.

That was a direct result of the way Larson crashed. As he entered Turn 3, he carved to the bottom of the track and felt his front wheel “grab” him, but it went too far and pulled him around. Larson looped the car around and smashed the car’s nose, which is a replaceable part on an IndyCar.

But Larson, unflappable as usual, was nonchalant when asked by reporters how soon he’d be able to put the incident behind him.

“Honestly, I would say it’s close to behind me,” he said less than 15 minutes after hitting the wall. “I race enough and I crash often enough that I get over things quickly.”

(Photo: Grace Smith / IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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