“When is Lando [Norris] running the Daytona 500?”: Fans react as McLaren’s Zak Brown shows excitement over Kyle Larson’s Indy 500 announcement

Following Kyle Larson's announcement to pursue double duty again next year, Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, shared his excitement on social media, noting that preparations for the upcoming Indy 500 are already underway.

In 2025, the 2024 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year will once again pilot the #17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevy on May 25, 2025. After the race, he will transition swiftly from the pit lane to a helicopter waiting at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course that will whisk him to a private jet, ensuring his timely arrival in Charlotte for the start of the Coca-Cola 600.

In his debut at the Indy 500, the #5 Cup series driver made it to the Fast 6, starting fifth from the middle of Row 2, the second-best qualifying position on his team, and led for four laps. Unfortunately, a pit lane speeding penalty after the halfway mark diminished his chances for a top-five finish, leaving him in 18th place at the end of the race.

Eager to share his thoughts on this ambitious endeavor, Zak Brown posted on social media:

"Great day in Charlotte with this group of legends. Our 2025 Indy 500 campaign begins now with Kyle Larson back on track with @arrowmclaren 💪"

Meanwhile, fans also joined the fray to share their take on the same.

"When is lando running the Daytona 500?" said a fan.

Here are a few more comments on Zak Brown's posts:

"Good luck 👍" a fan said.

"Thanks Zak for helping @KyleLarsonRacin get another shot at making his dreams come true. Also, can my other favorite 5 team driver do a NASCAR race sometime?" one commented.

"So good for race fans, and motorsports in general@," an enthusiast believed.

"Orange looks so good on @TeamHendrick , that orange and blue scheme should be the regular @Hendrick5Team scheme," a fan suggested.

During the press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Zak Brown expressed his optimism about Kyle Larson's upcoming attempts at double duty:

"Kyle showed us all what he was capable of this past May, and given a second chance with better weather conditions, I think we'll all be excited to see him fight for a win at the Indy 500 and then another one in Charlotte."

"He's one of the most talented racing drivers out there, and it's a privilege to do this again with Mr. Hendrick and Jeff Gordon, who are both world-class. We can't wait for May," he continued.

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Rick Hendrick issues a statement regarding the weather conditions conundrum in Kyle Larson's next year attempt

During the announcement on Tuesday, questions arose regarding how Kyle Larson and the Hendrick Motorsports team would handle similar weather disruptions in 2025 like those experienced in 2024 causing Kyle Larson to miss the NASCAR race at Charlotte. Additionally, it was uncertain whether discussions had taken place about securing another waiver from NASCAR, if necessary.

Rick Hendrick clarified the situation by stating:

"Everyone learned a great deal that we’ll take into next year. Now that we’ve experienced it once, we know what to expect, which can only make us better and more prepared. Zak and the team at Arrow McLaren are tremendous partners, and we’re looking forward to finishing the job together in 2025." [via Formula Rapida]

While strategic plans for the Indy 500 are already underway, Kyle Larson's immediate focus remains on the current NASCAR playoffs. After an early exit from the race in Atlanta, Larson will be determined to regain his leading position in the playoffs by securing a victory at the Watkins Glen road course.