Kyle Larson has a new teammate for 2025 (if he decides to return)

Kyle Larson reportedly has the ability to return to Arrow McLaren for a second Indy 500 start and another Memorial Day Double attempt in 2025, provided he opts to do so, and provided Hendrick Motorsports, his NASCAR Cup Series team, give him the green light.

In January 2023, when the 2021 Cup Series champion signed with Arrow McLaren to drive the No. 17 McLaren-Hendrick Chevrolet in this past May’s running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his deal was discovered to be for two years.

Larson has not made any confirmations one way or another, but if he does opt to return for the 109th running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Speedway, Indiana oval, he is set to have a new teammate.

Arrow McLaren confirm surprise driver change
Pato O’Ward is already under contract with Arrow McLaren for 2025, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which the team cut ties with regular Indy 500 frontrunner Alexander Rossi, even though his current contract is due to expire at the end of the 2024 season

David Malukas had been slated to replace the Meyer Shank Racing-bound Felix Rosenqvist behind the wheel of the No. 6 Chevrolet this year, but a preseason wrist injury threw a wrench into those plans. Callum Ilott ended up getting the nod to compete in the Indy 500.

In a somewhat amusing moment leading up to the big race, you could hear, quite clearly, Larson asking an Arrow McLaren team official during a Peacock stream of an Indy 500 practice session who would be driving the No. 6 Chevrolet (and then ask who Ilott is).

Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire had been named the full-time driver of the No. 6 Chevrolet for the post-Indy 500 portion of the 2024 season. He was set to make his sixth start of the 2025 season in this Sunday’s race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.