IndyCar’s showpiece event will feature Blaney’s fellow NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson for the first time next year, who has entered the America’s biggest open-wheel race with a Hendrick-backed, McLaren-run car.
Roger Penske, who scored his 19th victory in the iconic race with Josef Newgarden this year, has welcomed 2021 Cup champion Larson’s participation – who will fly to Charlotte straight after the 500 to race in Charlotte’s NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 that evening.
“We are so excited to see Larson come to the speedway,” said Penske. “I know Rick [Hendrick] talked to me about running Larson and we hadn’t had the success for a couple years… and then, of course, McLaren did and we just applauded that all the way along, and I think that his skill and his fanbase in the Midwest is amazing.
“He went out there [to Indianapolis in October] and did his rookie test – bang, bang, bang. Kurt Busch has run there. I think that he comes with a tremendous amount of talent and it’s something that he wants to do.
“It’s interesting. Blaney said to me at some point over the last several weeks that he would like to go to Indy. I was like, ‘Whoa, slow down a little bit.’
“We’re good to have everybody come to Indy, but if we can have the double and really play up Memorial Day at both Charlotte and Indianapolis it’ll be great. The interest from the fanbase with [Larson] coming, we can see it already in our ticket sales. He’ll be a great asset to Indianapolis and the 500.”
Source: Autosport