INDIANAPOLIS — Kyle Larson had a “moment” and Team Penske driver, and Saturday’s fastest qualifier Will Power had a car issue in Sunday’s “Fast 12” practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Larson’s moment was in between Turns 1 and 2 as his No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports wiggled and nearly hit the wall on one of his practice attempts for the Fast 12 qualifications later Sunday.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion got off the throttle, kept it off the wall and returned to the pit area for the crew to analyze the situation.
According to Hendrick Motorsports technical director Brian Campe, the team completely “missed the setup” on Larson’s car.
A few minutes later, it was Team Penske’s turn to have a plenum issue with the Chevrolet engine when Power had a surprising slow run. The power of his car cut dramatically, and the driver said he felt a vibration in addition to losing Power.
A “Plenum event” is when a car backfires from fuel exploding in the plenum that is part of the turbocharger and manifold system. The momentary loss of power ruins any chance of getting back up to speed before the explosion.
In an interview when he got out of his Chevrolet during the practice, Power said he made a mistake by not running some practice laps in the heat of the day on Saturday after he had qualified with the fastest speed in the first round of qualifications.
“That was all my fault, and I should have elected to run on Saturday,” Power said. “We wasted an opportunity.”
Larson’s crew changed the setup and Larson made his third and final run in the practice session with a four-lap qualification simulation. He turned a 232.0 miles per hour four-lap average, putting him just outside of making the Fast Six.
His fastest lap was 232.845 miles per hour in the No. 17 Chevrolet.
“The first run we aborted is because we were close in traffic and weren’t getting a real read on things,” Larson said. “The second run in these cars, when it gets real tight, the car wants to snap. Then we went out again and put together a real run.
“I had a good vibration and couldn’t really see very well so that was sketchy, but I was able to get it faster and more comfortable.
“I feel equal to the first time. I know what to expect more now, but the first time you do a warmup deal, and you turn up the boost and the mapping going into Turn 3, that’s the fastest feeling. Then it gets OK. After you get past the first lap-and-a-half, you settle in. When you get so much grip, it takes a little of the sensation away from going to 240 miles an hour.
“But if you are going to crash, that is when it will happen.”
“Oh great, I made Fast 12,” Larson said. “Now, you have to spend another day living on the edge.
“I would rather get it done once. The conditions are hotter and that makes you even more nervous.
“It would be great just to make the Fast Six.”
Larson will remain in Indianapolis until 6:15 p.m. when he will take a helicopter from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to a private plane awaiting him at the Indianapolis Airport.
He hopes to arrive in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina in time for the 8 p.m. NASCAR All-Star Race.
“If I don’t make the Fast Six, it’s pretty simple,” Larson said. “I need to talk to Kevin Harvick for a bit and find out about the car and try to get familiar with pit road at North Wilkesboro because I haven’t run laps on the track.
“It will be fun. I look forward to running there with zero laps and seeing what we can do.”
Josef Newgarden was the fastest driver in the Fast 12 practice at 234.052 miles per hour in the No. 2 Shell Chevrolet. Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer-Shank Racing was second at 233.485 mph in the No. 60 Honda. Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports was third at 233.462 mph in the No. 5 Chevrolet.
Teammate Alexander Rossi was fourth at 233.155 mph in the No. 7 Chevrolet with Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood rounding out the top five at 232.896 mph in the No. 27 Honda.
Larson was sixth at 232.845 mph in the No. 17 Chevrolet.
Power, the fastest driver on Saturday, was the slowest in the Fast 12 session at 231.990 mph.