Larson takes fan favorite HendrickCars.com scheme to victory in Brickyard 400
Last Wednesday, HendrickCars.com announced it was bringing back the orange and papaya paint scheme for the Brickyard 400.
And on Sunday, Kyle Larson parked it in victory lane.
The design – a fan favorite – matched the 2024 Brickyard 400 race winner’s No. 17 IndyCar that he piloted in his first-ever Indianapolis 500 this past May.
“This is such a prestigious place – such hallowed ground,” stated Larson. “It’s pretty neat to get an opportunity to race here on the oval again.”
The trek to kissing the bricks at the historic racetrack began with Larson fifth for the 160-lap event. He was running third on lap 25 when crew chief Cliff Daniels called the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to pit road under green conditions for a scheduled four-tire pit stop. Once stops were completed on lap 41, Larson was in the runner-up spot – a position he would hold through the end of stage one at lap 50.
HENDRICKCARS.COM I EXPLORE INVENTORY I SCHEDULE SERVICE I CAREERS I BLOG
Daniels called Larson to pit road for four new tires plus fuel during the stage break with Larson returning to the track in 11th behind several drivers that did not pit or stopped for right-side tires only. Larson gained one spot before another caution waved at lap 68. But during the two-tire stop, there was an issue with the right-rear tire exchange. Larson was called back into the pits to fix the issue plus change left-side tires. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion restarted 35th on lap 73 and gained 15 positions before stage two ended at lap 100.
Larson remained on track during the stage break and restarted eighth on lap 104. He maneuvered up to fourth before green-flag pit stops began at lap 121. The Elk Grove, California, native briefly led before making his final stop on lap 123. However, he was scored 23rd when a caution waved on the next lap before the entire field had made their stops.
But when the race restarted, Larson put on a clinic.
He was up to 19th by lap 130 and 15th by lap 134. Five laps later, he was 10th on the scoring pylon. By lap 148, he was scored fifth and, with eight laps to go, Larson was in third. But he had a much tougher go passing the first and second-place cars – until a caution waved with three laps to go. Lined up for the first overtime start behind the leader, Larson inherited the front row when the leader pulled off the track to visit pit road for fuel.
The 31-year-old driver then took the lead into the first turn before another caution waved. On the final restart, Larson quickly grabbed the lead and held on to win his first Brickyard 400.
HENDRICKCARS.COM I EXPLORE INVENTORY I SCHEDULE SERVICE I CAREERS I BLOG
“What a job by our team. We had the pit stop issue early on and just fought, dug and had things work out. I just can't thank them enough. HendrickCars.com, Valvoline, Chevrolet, JINYA Ramen Bar, Prime; all the fans, too. I love you, Indiana fans.”
The win marks the third career crown jewel victory for Larson in his career. After taking Charlotte Motor Speedway's Coca-Cola 600 in 2021 and Darlington Raceway's Southern 500 in 2022, the HendrickCars.com driver has now checked off the Brickyard 400. Only the season-opening DAYTONA 500 remains on the list before Larson would collect all four crown jewel wins.
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