INDIANAPOLIS — For years, Kyle Larson has grow to be synonymous with NASCAR’s connection to the Indianapolis 500.
However when Sunday’s Brickyard 400 takes the inexperienced flag, Larson will not be the one driver within the prime 10 who is aware of what it is wish to race within the “Biggest Spectacle in Racing.”
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Beginning ninth alongside Larson in tenth, A.J. Allmendinger is the one different energetic NASCAR Cup Sequence driver to have began the Indy 500. Greater than a decade after making his lone begin in 2013, Indianapolis Motor Speedway nonetheless leaves the 44-year-old in awe.
“To me, it is the mecca of racing historical past,” Allmendinger mentioned.
“The historical past simply nonetheless hits me. It blows my thoughts how lengthy that place has been there to start with, and all of the greats which were on it, which have received at it.”
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Rajah Caruth (32) talks with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Ross Chastain (9) on Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Rajah Caruth (32) talks with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Ross Chastain (9) on Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Brent Crews (19) shares a quiet a second Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Brandon Jones (20) talks with a crew member Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Chase Elliott (88) talks by his pit field Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
Wheels sit in a pile Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Jeb Burton (27) indicators an autograph Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Harrison Burton (24) talks with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Dean Thompson (26) on Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Josh Bilicki (07) sits in pit lane Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Sheldon Creed (00) indicators an autograph Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Brandon Jones (20) appears to be like down pit lane Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Kyle Sieg (28) indicators an autograph Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Ross Chastain (9) sits by his automotive Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Rajah Caruth (32) climbs into his automotive Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Garrett Corridor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Justin Allgaier (7) talks with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Brandon Jones (20) on Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar)
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Brickyard 400: NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly qualifying pictures
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Carson Kvapil (1) and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Sequence driver Parker Retzlaff (99) stand in pit lane Saturday, July 25, 2026, throughout qualifying for the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Kristin Enzor/For IndyStar)
For Allmendinger, Indianapolis has all the time carried a deeper which means.
His dad and mom have been devoted Indy 500 followers. They camped outdoors the speedway for the 1979 race and watched Rick Mears seize his first Indy 500 victory. Allmendinger was even named after four-time 500 winner A.J. Foyt.
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“It is all the time been the place that I’ve dreamed about and needed to be part of, and extra importantly win at,” he mentioned.
That lifelong dream turned actuality in 2013, when Roger Penske gave Allmendinger the chance to make his Indy 500 debut. He certified on the second row, led 23 laps and completed seventh in his first begin.
But Allmendinger mentioned probably the most particular reminiscences from that month occurred earlier than he ever climbed into the race automotive.
“It was simply strolling facet by facet with Roger Penske, going to leap in one in every of his race automobiles, and him calling my race,” he mentioned. “I felt like I used to be strolling with God at that time. … That is a reminiscence that can all the time reside with me.”
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Driving an Indy automotive at Indianapolis additionally gave Allmendinger a brand new appreciation for the speedway’s distinctive problem.
“I keep in mind that was the primary time in my life happening the straightaway, and also you’re identical to, ‘Holy (expletive), we’re quick,'” he mentioned. “If one thing goes unsuitable, it’s huge.”
Though he by no means returned to the Indy 500, Allmendinger nonetheless discovered his defining Indianapolis second eight years later.
Driving for Kaulig Racing in 2021, he overcame an early pit street rushing penalty earlier than capitalizing on a chaotic late restart to earn his second Cup Sequence victory in NASCAR’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway street course. The win ended with Allmendinger kissing the bricks for the primary time.
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“For many of that race, we had no enterprise actually pondering that we have been going to win,” he mentioned. “The subsequent factor , we’re standing there in victory lane, or extra importantly, standing on the entrance straightaway kissing the bricks.
“It was the best win ever.”
Now, Allmendinger returns to Indianapolis with one other alternative so as to add to his historical past at one in every of racing’s most revered venues.
He’ll roll off ninth for Sunday’s Brickyard 400, one spot forward of Larson, with one other probability so as to add to a racing historical past at Indianapolis that started lengthy earlier than he ever climbed right into a race automotive.
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“I’ll all the time say that (if) you win in Indy, it stands out a bit of bit greater than a few of the racetracks we go to,” Allmendinger mentioned. “That is not making an attempt to downplay any of the racetracks we go to, however to me, that is what Indy is.”
Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports activities reporter. Get IndyStar’s motor sports activities protection despatched on to your inbox with our Motor Sports activities publication. Subscribe to theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes have a look at IndyCar and skilled evaluation.
