“Fun watching from a distance”: Kyle Larson keeping an eye on NASCAR from Indianapolis Motor Speedway

While NASCAR was busy with the practice and qualifying sessions at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Kyle Larson was busy qualifying for the Indy 500. However, he told NBC Sports that he has been keeping an eye on whatever was happening at the iconic short track in North Carolina.

Former Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick substituted Larson during the qualifying and practice for the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. However, Harvick cannot drive in the heat races because he is not a full-time driver.

After qualifying sixth with a blazing fast lap of 232.563 mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Larson said,

"Hopefully, it's fast enough to make the fast 12 for tomorrow. That'd be really cool. Happy with the balance of the car and proud of the team...all of that stuff...freaking out after not getting to complete that first run. Just great to be in the show. Huge thank you to Arrow McLaren, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, especially Rick Hendrick."

"Just an awesome opportunity; having a blast so far. Staying in tune with things going on at North Wilkesboro as well, it's been fun watching from a distance," he added.

The Fast 12 will be followed by another round of four-lap starts, which will commence at 3 p.m. E.T. If Larson qualifies there, he will move up to the Fast 6 and the dash for the pole will start at 5:25 p.m. E.T.

Larson is the fifth driver in the history of NASCAR to attempt to complete the combined 1,100 miles of the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Thanks to his win at Las Vegas and his runner-up position at Dover Motor Speedway, Larson currently tops the NASCAR Cup Series point standings with 486 points under his belt.

Kyle Larson on his comeback after shaky start

Kyle Larson at the Wurth 400

Kyle Larson was unable to complete the first lap at Indianapolis due to a fire in the engine of his number 17 Arrow McLaren Racing Chevrolet. However, three hours later, he managed to make a solid comeback from an inauspicious start.

"Honestly, I feel like the nerves were a lot less going the second time," explained the 2021 Cup Series champion. "Not completing that first run, I just felt less nervous. Good to get a run in; I don't ever get to qualify like that; you get multiple shots at it where that one lap matters; you can forfeit a run."

Adapting to the extra 100 horsepower turbocharger boost of an IndyCar could often get challenging for NASCAR drivers like Kyle Larson. However, Arrow McLaren team principal Gavin Ward was happy with how Larson had fared.

"I can‘t believe how well he‘s done here. I‘m over the moon, the team at Arrow McLaren is over the moon, and Hendrick Motorsports is absolutely over the moon with how things have gone from here. We‘ll just keep trying to execute from here," Ward told NASCAR.

If Kyle Larson makes it to the Fast 6 at Indianapolis, he will then take the flight back to North Carolina for the All-Star event, where he is a three-time winner and also the defending champion.