Late charge leads Larson to Brickyard 400 win
INDIANAPOLIS — Kyle Larson made a late charge through the field, managed to get his car refired after a red flag and won the final two restart battles Sunday before coasting to his first Brickyard 400 victory under caution.
Larson took the lead when Brad Keselowski ran out of fuel and pulled off the track just before the second-to-last restart and beat pole winner Tyler Reddick at the end with the yellow flag out.
“Today was definitely meant to be for us with the way the strategy was working out and all that fell into place,” Larson said. “Thankfully, it did. I just can’t believe it. It’s just surreal to win here.”
Larson won in his first trip back to the speedway since he tried to become the fifth driver to complete 1,100 miles of racing on the same May day, at Indy and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Larson won for the fourth time this season and took the points lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott.
The 31-year-old Californian charged back from 12th over the final 32 laps as many drivers attempted to save fuel in the first Cup race on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s historic 2.5-mile oval since 2020, with the last three being run on the facility’s 14-turn road course.
Larson has won three of NASCAR’s crown jewel races, missing only the Daytona 500. And his return to Indy was every bit as exciting as it was in May.
When Keselowski pulled off the track before taking the green flag with three to go, he ceded the inside lane to Larson, who take advantage of a clean shot to pass Ryan Blaney’s second-place car just before a five-car pileup that began when Daniel Hemric and John Henry Nemechek made contact.
The crash brought out the red flag and Larson needed an assist in getting his No. 5 Chevrolet stated. Once he did, though, he again had the inside lane, and again beat Blaney off the restart and held on for the victory.
“That’s a heartbreaker. We did everything right today,” said Blaney, who was upset that Larson essentially went from third into the line Keselowski had chosen to restart. “He was in prime position to win and it just didn’t work out for us.”
Denny Hamlin won the first stage, his first ever at Indianapolis, and Bubba Wallace took the second stage, giving him 10 points as he tries to make the playoffs.
It was Wallace’s first stage win since 2022.
Blaney wound up third, Elliott was fourth and Todd Gilliland was fifth.
Hamilton gets to winners’ podium record 200th time
BUDAPEST — Lewis Hamilton added to his Formula One milestones by becoming the only driver to stand on a winners’ podium for the 200th time after his thirdplace finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion extended his record podium haul following a classic Hamilton drive that featured a scintillating duel with rival Max Verstappen.
The jousting between the two best drivers of their generation ended with Verstappen’s Red Bull momentarily going airborne after they made contact late in the race. Verstappen had been battling for several laps to get into third position.
“The close battle we had at the end was a bit hair-raising but that’s motor racing,” the 39-year-old Hamilton said.
Australia’s Oscar Piastri won the race while his McLaren teammate Lando Norris of Great Britain was second.
Herta dominates in first IndyCar win of the season
TORONTO — Colton Herta won Indy Toronto for his first victory of the year, starting from the pole and maintaining control throughout the chaotic race at Exhibition Place.
The 24-year-old American raced to his eighth career victory and first in more than two years. He completed the first weekend sweep in IndyCar history, posting the fastest times in both practices, qualifying and Sunday’s warmup before winning the race.
Andretti Global teammate Kyle Kirkwood finished second on the street course, followed by four-time Toronto champion Scott Dixon of hip Ganassi Racing.
The race was the first street event for the hybrid powertrains introduced two weeks ago on the road course at Mid-Ohio.
Series leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing was fourth after starting 18th following a penalty for interference in qualifying. He increased his lead to 49 points over Will Power, the Team Penske driver who ended up 12th after a late penalty.