Larson crashed in Indy 500 testing the other day. While his car wasn’t set ablaze, what was social media after his much-anticipated run was ended early? Both from disappointed fans who were sad their favorite was gone and worried about his 2025 Indy 500 run. Also, F1 fans are bringing up a 2024 quote Larson made about F1.
Is Kyle Larson Better Than Max Verstappen?
A comment that fans everywhere lambasted. A tweet combining Larson’s statement with the video of his Indy wreck quickly captured the attention of fans. “Also, Kyle Larson driving in circles,” A fan sarcastically quipped, “Well, to be fair, he does hit the wall quite often. It’s sorta a trademark of his.” The meme said with a crash video attached. Other fans, however, are fans of either/or both American series.
“Driving fast on ovals requires being able to drive at the edge of tire grip, just like F1,” one user noted. “Sometimes even the best drivers go over the limit.” Verstappen has previously admitted that he’s not keen on racing at Indy, citing the dangerous nature of oval racing. Quite ironic given the discussion on who’s the better all-around driver.
Apples to Oranges
A casual observation shows how different NASCAR and F1 are. Not only does NASCAR go in circles and F1 doesn’t but NASCAR drivers drive in cars that resemble cars and F1 drivers drive in things that resemble rockets more than they do cars. It’s completely separate skillsets and understanding of cars. Hence, most of these discussions are different because they debate who is better, Lionel Messi or Tom Brady. In terms of being an all-around driver, Larson does have a slight advantage, however, because while F1 never goes on ovals, NASCAR does race at road courses. Larson has won the 24 Hours of Daytona before, giving him the edge over Verstappen.
NASCAR’s Openness
No, it doesn’t matter here. Because at the end of the day, if you’re racing a fan of whatever series, Indy, NASCAR, F1, you’re there to appreciate whatever skillset drivers are supposed to master in those series. One of racing’s biggest appeals is that every series demands such different skills, so we’re better off appreciating and understanding what makes the drivers of each series unique rather than pointless comparison!
Thanks a bunch for reading!
