Indy 500 rain delay: Impact on Kyle Larson as Indianapolis 500 delay announced
NOTE: The Indy 500 started at 3:45 p.m. CT Sunday.
The 2024 Indianapolis 500 will be delayed by an impending storm that will bring rain and lightning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway around the time of the scheduled green flag on Sunday.
The track announced the delay of pre-race activity and the start time about 90 minutes prior to the scheduled green flag, which was at 11:45 a.m. CT Sunday, until the storm passes.
"The start of the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will also be delayed. Additional updates on timing will be communicated," a statement by IMS posted to social media said.
Given the proximity of lightning moving toward the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a decision has been made to pause the pre-race ceremonies and move fans out of the grandstands and Snake Pit.
Spectators are encouraged to follow the instructions of IMS team members. They should… pic.twitter.com/Yk9W2AVOpr— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) May 26, 2024
Rain is expected to arrive on-site at IMS at around 11 a.m. CT.
2 P.M. CT SUNDAY UPDATE: Track drying is well underway, and NBC says the start could tentatively come at about 3:45 p.m. CT.
STARTING LINEUP: Indy 500: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Sunday's race
KYLE LARSON AT THE INDY 500: What to know about NASCAR star making Indianapolis 500 debut
Kyle Larson impact: Will Larson wait out rain delay to race Indy 500?
Kyle Larson will have a decision to make in his quest to do the Memorial Day Sunday double, given the delay that is likely to push the start time of the 500 to the mid-afternoon at the earliest and the start of the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race scheduled for just after 5 p.m. CT in North Carolina.
There has been no official decision from Hendrick Motorsports, Arrow McLaren or Larson. IndyStar reported Sunday that Larson will stay to run the Indy 500 over the Coca-Cola 600, and IMS President Doug Boles confirmed as such later Sunday.
The driver told NBC before the delay announcement on the pre-race show that he wants to run both races but acknowledged it's not just his decision.
"There's just been so much time and investment to make this Indy 500 run happen," Larson said to NBC. "It's been a build up for over a year, so we need to run it. And I want to, and I feel like I got a really good shot to have a good run and potentially win. I want to be here, but I just wish it would all work out and we could get both races in."
“I want to be here.”
Kyle Larson explains why running in the #Indy500 is a priority for him as he attempts to complete the Indy 500/NASCAR double. pic.twitter.com/ScP1rcW4Wg— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 26, 2024
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Indy 500 rain delay: Race won't start on time; Kyle Larson impact
