"He's such a natural talent" - William Byron praises HMS teammate Kyle Larson's double duty grind

Hendrick Motorsports ace Kyle Larson's teammate William Byron was all praises of the 31-year-old driver for performing a double shift in the upcoming weekend. Larson will take part in both the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 and the Indy 500 races, aiming to complete 'the double.'

2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson has set big goals for his 2024 campaign. After nearly missing out on the Cup title last season, and settling for a runner-up finish, Larson emerges as one of the top championship contenders this season.

However, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has set his sights on achievements beyond NASCAR. Larson, 31, is set to make his IndyCar debut, participating in the Indy 500 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

With Larson set to attempt the 'double,' competing in both Indy 500 and NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, his HMS teammate William Byron was in awe of the 31-year-old driver. Speaking to Frontstretch, he said:

"I think it's really cool what Kyle's doing. I think it's awesome. I am definitely tuned in, and he's such a natural talent that it looks like he kinda picked it up pretty easily."

Byron added:

"It will be cool to watch him go out there and hopefully have a very good race."

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Kyle Larson reacts to strong Indy 500 qualifying performance

Kyle Larson's preparation for the Indy 500 has been impressive. During the qualifying rounds, he posted an average speed of 232.563 mph over his four-lap run, positioning himself as a contender for the pole. The HMS driver was the sixth-quickest on the first day of qualifying, placing him among the top 12 drivers vying for the coveted first spot on the starting grid.

Larson's qualifying performance was not without its challenges. He was one of the first cars to take to the track, benefiting from the cooler morning temperatures that often yield faster speeds. Despite a brief engine hiccup late in his run, which echoed issues that plagued several other drivers, Larson maintained his composure and delivered a strong performance (via The Associated Press):

"I’ll definitely take that," Larson said, reflecting on his qualifying run. "Proud of the team for not all of us freaking out" .

Reflecting on his first-time IndyCar experience, Larson elaborated (via IndyStar):

"To this point, it’s been a really fun experience. I’ve never gotten to compete in a qualifying day like this. It’s honestly pretty relaxing, doing it like this. I feel like when you can do multiple runs, it just calms the nerves — for me anyways."

After competing for the pole at Indianapolis, Larson is scheduled to fly to North Wilkesboro for the NASCAR All-Star Race, a critical dry run for the rigorous Memorial Day weekend.