Ryan Blaney Doesn’t Want Kyle Larson to Finish Better Than P4 at 2025 Indy 500

Ryan Blaney brutally claims that he wants Kyle Larson to finish below P4 or worse at the upcoming Indy 500.

Ryan Blaney Doesn’t Want Kyle Larson to Finish Better Than P4 at 2025 Indy 500

Ryan Blaney (via IMAGN), Kyle Larson (via IMAGO)

Kyle Larson has the massive duty of participating in the Double Duty at the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on 25th May. Larson remains a strong contender for achieving a great finish, if not the race win, in both races of the Double Duty if he minimizes errors like his previous outings in IndyCar. However, his NASCAR colleague, Ryan Blaney, has issued an unconventional statement on the 32-year-old’s chances of winning at the upcoming Indy 500.

Kyle Larson‘s practice session for the Indy 500 turned disastrous after he crashed the car in his very first fast lap during the session. As such, he hasn’t practiced this season after just finishing in P18 at his debut outing in the Indy500 in 2024. Larson seemed strong in his pace in his debut race, but sustained a speeding penalty and couldn’t achieve a better finish back then.

Ryan Blaney has now shared his opinions on Kyle Larson’s winning chances in the Double Duty, especially the Indy 500. The No.12 driver believes that Larson doesn’t have many weaknesses when it comes to racing in the 500-mile format. Still, Blaney issued a brutal statement that he wishes to witness Larson finish no better than P4 at the upcoming Indy 500.

Blaney blatantly claims that he wants Larson to finish in P4 or worse at the Indianapolis 500. The 31-year-old further noted that the No.17 driver must finish right behind the reigning champion Josef Newgarden, with the other Penske drivers at the front.

The Penske star noted that he was loyal to his teammates, Scott McLaughlin and Will Power, first, and then Larson for scoring the win in Indy. Still, Blaney reckons that the McLaren star is highly likely to contend for the race wins and provide a tough time to the rivals.

I thought it was really cool last year. He did a really good job there until he sped on pit road, I’m sure he will be in contention, but yeah, Penske loyalty. I want him to run fourth. But you do root for him because he’s representing us.

Ryan Blaney told apnews.com.

Kyle Larson accepts he hasn’t done a ‘whole lot’ of prep for the Indy 500

Kyle Larson’s practice leading up to the Indy 500 was cut short due to his big wreck at the very beginning of the session. Due to this, he lost a lot of crucial track time to prepare for the main race on 25th May. Still, Larson is confident of his chances in the race as he believes there isn’t much to prepare for.

Kyle Larson (via McLaren)
Kyle Larson (via McLaren)

Larson highlights that he hasn’t done a whole lot of prep for the Indianapolis 500. However, he accepts that there isn’t much he can do study-wise as he will still watch the film and prepare for the race. Moreover, the No.17 driver is confident that he will get the hang of racing the car once he sits in the cockpit of the challenger again. This would help him gain knowledge about his strengths and weaknesses for the main race.

With Indy, I haven’t done a whole lot, but there’s not much you can do studying wise. You can watch film, which I will and all that, but for Indy you have a lot of time really. So I think once you get in the car and understand the balance of the car, you can pick apart studying and you know, where your strengths and where your weaknesses are.

Kyle Larson said.

Kyle Larson will still be met with the massive challenge of the Double Duty in his upcoming race weekend. This means that he will have to race in two different formats and sit in the challenger for practically the entire day. Although it sounds harsh, Larson is confident in his chances to succeed and believes that he can handle both races well. Now, time will tell about how the McLaren star performs and if he proves Ryan Blaney’s wishes incomplete at the Indy 500 of finishing worse than P4.

Also Read: Carson Hocevar ‘Flipped Layne Riggs off All the Way down the Fronstretch’ After Kansas Truck Race Win