Or the only rookie the Media’s talking about…
As previously noted, this year’s Indianapolis
500 Rookie Class features seven diverse drivers. )5 Honda; 2 Chevrolet) With
one unfortunately Hogging the limelight! As I’m afraid it’ll be nonstop Kyle
mania this May, Urgh!
Kyle Larson
#17 Arrow McLaren
Engine: Chevrolet
Country: USA
DOB: 7/31/92, Age: 31
IndyCar Starts: 0
2021 NASCAR Cup Champion
Otay, let’s get this one out of the way, shall
we! Since I fear that IMS has already gifted Kyle Larson the 2024 Indy 500
rookie Of the Year (ROY) trophy, SPEW! A la their skewed choice of ‘Ol JJ’, nee
Jimmie Johnson in 2022, but I digress…
Yes, Larson’s an amazingly gifted racing
driver, arguably one of Sprint Car and Midgets best. Yes, He won the 2021
NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Championship driving for Hendrick Motorsports. As
Rick Hendrick is the co-entrant for the fourth Arrow McLaren racecar this year.
But unfortunately for me, whenever I hear
Kyle’s name, I immediately flash back to that Horrendous decision to use the
You-know-What word during a Gaming session in April, 2020. With then NASCAR
employer chip Ganassi rightly, immediately terminating His contract!
Although I absolutely do not expect this to
happen, and for Kyle to “safely” qualify for this year’s race. How ironic would
it be if one of Cheeps’ (Ganassi) trio of Indy 500 rookies Bumped Larson out of
the Show…
But I also do look forward to Kyle completing
“the double” this May. Becoming only the fifth driver to contest the
Indianapolis 500 and Charlotte 600 on the same day.
Whilst I’ll begrudgingly admit that Larson’s
seemed exptremely Humble and willing to talk to the Media whenever requested.
Hasn’t put a wheel wrong and is Bloody Fast! Being the Quickest Rookie,
qualifying fifth!
Christian Rasmussen
#33 Ed Carpenter Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
Country: Denmark
DOB: 6/29/00, Age: 23
IndyCar Starts: 4
2023 Indy NXT Champion
This is one of the crop of several new IndyCar
drivers I really like. As the only flaw to date is that it seems Christian
Rasmussen is pressing too hard? Although who am I to critique Rasmussen’s
driving prowess, Eh?
Yet it seems like every race at season’s
beginning, His name is mentioned in either a collision, crash or spinning out
on His own! With P19 at St Pete being His best finish to date; followed by 27-24-20
place finishes thru the Indy GP. Amassing two Top-20 finishes enroute to
currently sitting 25th overall.
After two excellent seasons in His Home Danish
Formula 4 Feeder Series, the Dane’ made the trip across thoust Bloody Puddle’,
Hya! And began climbing the Road to Indy ranks.
Driving for Jay Howard’s Driver Development
squad in 2019, Rasmussen finished third in the 2019 U.S. F2000 National
Championship with three wins. Then claimed the title the following year with a
dominating nine wins before graduating to Indy Pro 2000.
Staying with Jay Howard, Rasmussen went
back-to-back by claiming the 2021 Indy Pro 2000 Championship, scoring seven
more wins enroute to the title.
For 2022, Christian joined Andretti Autosport’s
Indy NXT programme, notching two wins enroute to sixth overall. Then for 2023
He joined HMD Motorsports and scored a further five wins while winning the
Championship.
Rasmussen is driving a Twisties’ Only programme for Ed Carpenter Racing. Plus a third “One-off” entry at Mother Speedway, where it’ll be interesting to see if the boss and Rinus VeeKay’s Oval prowess at the Brickyard help the Dane have a successful Indy 500 debut…
