Kyle Larson Said He Was ‘Happy’ To Crash His IndyCar During Indy 500 Testing

Kyle Larson had a smashing return to IndyCar for Indianapolis 500 testing, but not the good kind.

Larson will once again be attempting to complete “The Double” of finishing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day after coming up short last year due to weather.

The full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver went wide into the turn one wall during a session where his Arrow McLaren was in qualifying trim, then continued through the corner and made contact with the wall again in turn two.

He was unhurt during the incident, but had to skip the afternoon session where the cars were in race trim.

“I just got really tight, just a bunch of understeer through one and ran out of space,” he said after leaving the infield care center. “Honestly, though, I’m happy to crash my first IndyCar and live through it.”

“I know it wasn’t a big hit or anything, but it didn’t feel anything different than what I was expecting.”

Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato also crashed during the session, but had a much harder hit that registered 94g.

“I lost it; I simply lost it,” Sato said. “It’s hard. My body is fine. It’s just the car … I lost the car.That’s heartbreaking.”

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Sato had recorded the fastest “no-tow” lap before his day ended and finished second to Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin in the drafting session. Alex Palou led the way during the afternoon race trim test.

IndyCar will be back in Indianapolis on May 10 for the Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course followed by Indy 500 qualifying the next week ahead of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing itself on May 25.