NASCAR takeaways: Kyle Larson rides strong car, good fortune to Brickyard victory

INDIANAPOLIS — Kyle Larson was the unluckiest guy around Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver got some luck Sunday to combine with a fast car and a strong performance to capture the Brickyard 400.

Larson, whose Memorial Day weekend Indy 500-Coke 600 double was ruined when rain delayed the start of the 500 to then cause him to miss the start of the 600, and then rain in Charlotte kept him from ever getting in the Cup car in a rain-shortened race, got the cautions when he needed them Sunday.

On an overtime restart, leader Brad Keselowski ran out of gas and dipped down to pit road, leaving Larson, who was third, in the optimal inside lane on the restart and allowing him to outduel Ryan Blaney for the lead.

"Everything just comes full circle," Larson said. "Everything is meant to be. Today definitely [was] meant to be for us.

"With the way the strategy was working out, Brad running out of fuel, me inheriting the front row. A lot had to fall into place. Thankfully, it did."

Larson reiterated his intentions to run the Indianapolis 500 next year in another double attempt.

"We're working on it," he told a raucous Indianapolis crowd that loves Larson because of his sprint-car racing roots. "I hope we can announce something soon. See you guys all next May."

The race was the 30th anniversary since the inaugural Cup race at Indianapolis, which was won by Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon, who is now vice chairman of the organization owned by Rick Hendrick.

"I don't know that I've ever been this excited," Hendrick said.

Takeaways from a Brickyard 400 where Tyler Reddick finished second, followed by Blaney, Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace.

Blaney Frustrated With Finish

Blaney