INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Audrey Larson, all of 6 years old, is rooting for Alexander Rossi to win the Indianapolis 500. And if her dad doesn’t flip his car — she is pretty convinced he will — then maybe he can finish second.
That’s some kind of cheering section that Kyle Larson is taking into “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Yes, the daughter he just whisked to Paris to see Taylor Swift as a birthday gift has chosen a rival over her father in his Indianapolis 500 debut on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Larson, a father of three, is trying to become the modern-day version of Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Stewart by showing once again that he is capable of winning in any kind of car. And the latest challenge for the sprint car superstar-turned-NASCAR champion is to become just the fifth driver in history to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina on the same day.
Stewart in 2001 is the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles. Kurt Busch in 2014 is the last to even try.
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Larson hasn’t asked for much advice — mostly because he doesn’t even know what to ask about driving an Indy car — but the greats who came before him aren’t too concerned with how he will perform starting fifth in a joint effort between Arrow McLaren Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, his NASCAR team.
“He has the potential to do what’s never been done and win both of these races,” Stewart said. “He’s just one of those naturally talented guys that you can put him in anything and he can drive it.”
The list of drivers who try both open-wheel racing and stock car racing is long and the differences are stark. Stock cars can take a beating and contact is part of the deal; Indy cars are far more fragile, and contact with a competitor or wall can end someone’s race immediately.
Robby Gordon attempted “The Double” five times ,with his 2002 showing of eighth at Indy and 16th at Charlotte his best attempt. He too believes Larson can win both races; Larson already won the 600, NASCAR’s longest race, in 2021.
“Kyle has a shot, a legitimate shot,” Gordon said. “We may look at him as a stock car driver, but he knows where his wheels are, he’s not worried about clipping wheels with anybody or getting tires tangled. We all know he’s not scared, and he’s also light, that’s going to help him. He’s got a lot of advantages, and Kurt Busch did a great job, but I think Kyle will do a better job.”
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The deal between Hendrick and McLaren is for two years, which could be the smart play if the Indy 500 gets rained out Sunday. The forecast is iffy at best. Rick Hendrick has indicated he would have a hard time pulling Larson out of Indy to get to Charlotte, but it is a possibility the NASCAR team owner holds Larson to his day job.
McLaren boss Zak Brown said the decision will be left to Hendrick, who brought Larson’s entire No. 5 crew to Indianapolis on Friday for Carb Day to give those employees a chance to experience the Indy 500 atmosphere.
Larson has been working on the project for more than a year, but he has truly embraced the past two weeks at the historic speedway. Rain washed out a bunch of track time the first week, but since then, he has milked a cow, participated in community day at a local elementary school and was set to lead the annual driver parade Saturday through downtown Indianapolis.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials are allowing Larson to be first in the parade to shorten his time in the city, giving him a buffer in getting to Charlotte later Saturday for qualifying for the 600.
Larson, who runs the Daytona 500, some of the top sprint car races in the world and won the sports car showcase Rolex 24 at Daytona, thinks many big events can learn from the pomp and pageantry of Indianapolis.
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“This is like Disneyland or the Disney World of racetracks. It is the nicest facility,” he said. “Two weeks of stuff, buildup to the race — there’s so many things that make this event feel different and bigger. But yeah, there’s no other event I’ve been a part of to this point, and I haven’t even gotten to race yet, that’s felt quite as big as the Indy 500.”
Larson said his 9-year-old son, Owen, has grasped the magnitude of the Indy 500. Audrey remains unimpressed, while 17-month-old Cooper is just along for the ride.
“Audrey thinks I’m crazy. She’s said it multiple times, ‘Why are you going to get in a car that you are going to flip?’” Larson said. “Every time we’ve talked about it, she says it. I don’t know where she’s seen it. Owen, I think he gets how cool the cars are and how big the space is, and I hope Audrey does once the race gets here.”
Audrey seems to be alone in her opinion about dad, given that some of the best drivers in motorsports history seem to be in Larson’s corner. McLaren is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first of its two Indy 500 wins with Johnny Rutherford this year, and “Lone Star JR” went to Kokomo Speedway last week to watch Larson race a sprint car.
“He’s a racer,” said Rick Mears, the four-time Indy 500 winner, who downplayed Larson’s lack of IndyCar experience. “I’ve said for years that I can come out here or anywhere and test for three weeks and I will learn more in the first 30 laps of the race than I learned in three weeks of testing. Because in testing and practice, you don’t get put in positions that you do in the race. And that’s when you start learning.
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“That’s where his learning curve is, right? He’s dealt with similar stuff through the years. He’s going to have his work cut out for him, but if he does the job I think he will, he’ll have an opportunity.”
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Source: Policeman on crime scene . Red plastic tape and police officer, gun belt, handcuffs and gun.With a sunshine flare coming in.
INDIANAPOLIS –A man died days after he was tased while fleeing a traffic stop, according to Indiana State Police.
The stop happened just after 2 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, near Holt Road and Oliver Avenue on the southwest side of Indianapolis. A trooper pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation and learned the driver, 53-year-old David Potts, was wanted on a theft warrant out of Hendricks County.
Investigators say Potts resisted when the trooper tried to take him into custody and ran. The trooper chased him on foot and deployed a Taser. Potts was struck, fell into grass near the scene, and later became unresponsive. He died days later. An outside district is reviewing the case, and the trooper involved has been placed on administrative duties, which is standard procedure.
Captain Ron Galaviz said the investigation is still in its early stages.
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More from ISP Captain Ron Galaviz
“We’re going to conduct a thorough investigation, bringing in investigators from an outside district,” Galaviz said.
He said the agency is not drawing conclusions.
“I’m not going to throw blame out,” he said. “We want to get to the truth. We want to get to the bottom of these instances just as much as everybody wants answers.”
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David Potts’ brother, Jason Potts, described him as someone who was well-liked and good-hearted.
“He was a very likable guy, funny guy, you know, and I’ve gotten along with everybody. Good-hearted, good man. You didn’t deserve to go out like this, but for sure, no one does,” Jason Potts said.
He also questioned the investigation process.
Hear From David Potts’ Brother
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“I think someone else should be able to review the investigation because they may be partial to their own people,” he said.
Galaviz said the agency is following a step-by-step process.
“We’re not going to skip steps to facilitate something that would be a completed job,” he said. “We want to be as thorough and as comprehensive as we can, making sure we’re gathering all the facts.”
He said transparency includes accountability when needed.
“Our investigations have led to prosecutions of our own,” Galaviz said. “We have nothing to hide.”
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Jason Potts also raised concerns about medical findings in the case.
“The doctor’s report stated that he went 40 minutes without oxygen to the brain. I think that is negligence on the Indiana State Police Department,” he said.
Galaviz also emphasized cooperation during police encounters.
“Voluntary compliance with what the officer is asking for is always the best practice,” he said. “That’s the best course of action whether you agree with the reason you’ve been stopped or not.”
He added that traffic stops carry risks for everyone involved.
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“We’re seeing incidents like this all across the country,” Galaviz said. “It adds to a heightened sense of awareness—being aware of our surroundings, including what’s happening inside a vehicle or with anybody our troopers are interacting with.”
Galaviz said the agency is taking its time with the investigation.
INDIANAPOLIS — A man was injured in a shooting at a gas station on the near east side of Indianapolis Sunday night.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to a Marathon gas station located at 1453 E. Washington St. around 9:03 p.m. to investigate a shooting. When police arrived at the scene, they located a man who appeared to have sustained injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
The man was transported from the scene to a local hospital after the shooting. IMPD reported that the man is currently in stable condition.
Police believe multiple suspects may have been involved in the shooting. Investigators also indicated that the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle after the shooting.
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IMPD is working obtain security camera video from the gas station’s management team. Detectives hope that, once they have the security footage in hand, they will be able to identify the suspects or the vehicle they allegedly drove off in after the shooting.
Officers recovered multiple shell casings during their investigation of the shooting. Police also believe the shooting was targeted.
“Violence isn’t the answer,” IMPD Night Watch Captain Richard Ray said during a media briefing Sunday night. “A moment of anger can lead to a lifetime of severe consequences for both the victim and the suspect and persons involved. This not a way to resolve situations. Communication is the key, violence isn’t the key. We just need people to learn to resolve their differences amicably, and we can prevent things like these.”
IMPD confirmed that at least one person was working at the gas station when the shooting happened. Investigators also contend that the shooting happened at the gas station itself. Police do not think the shooting was a drive-by.
As of this article’s publication, no additional information on the shooting had been made available.
The NFL’s cyclical calendar hits another important checkpoint tomorrow at 4:00 PM EST, on June 1. This is a time in the calendar that bridges the gap between key periods of roster management — free agency and the draft — and the annual summer moratorium that each team has in June.
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The June 1st date, however, is a designation that allows teams to manipulate their cap situations, specifically for the upcoming season. This layer enables teams to save money for the immediate season while pushing off what remains to be addressed in the following year(s), whether that be via a cut or trade.
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Sports Illustrated’s Mike Kadlick broke down the importance of this date back in March:
When a player is released or traded around the start of the new league year (mid-March), their remaining prorated bonus money and guaranteed salary accelerates onto the team’s upcoming season’s cap and becomes what’s called “dead money”—a charge for a player no longer on the roster. When that same move occurs after June 1, however, teams are able to spread that dead cap-hit over two seasons instead of taking the entire hit in one year.
Mike Kadlick, On SI
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As for the Indianapolis Colts, there are a handful of cut/trade candidates that they could entertain. The tricky part with the June 1st date is that each of these cut/trade candidates will likely remain as such even after the fact, as the designation in question doesn’t offer much additional cap space compared to other examples across the league.
These candidates are the most likely to be moved, though it’s not necessarily due to the June 1st checkpoint in question.
In no particular order, we break down the candidates who could be dealt, providing an analysis of their situation, a likelihood they’ll be moved, whether it’s via trade or release, and an assessment of whether such a move would be beneficial for the team.
Anthony Richardson Sr.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) walks on the field Wednesday, May 27, 2026, during practice at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Colts’ first-round pick (4th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft has been back practicing with the team after no trade materialized following the 2026 draft cycle. Despite this, Richardson and his camp have not yet rescinded the trade request, so he could still be traded at any time before the regular-season trade deadline.
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Richardson’s time in Indianapolis is now set to conclude once his rookie contract runs out following the 2026-27 season. He has a $10.8 million cap hit for the upcoming season, and although that’s a pricey payday for a projected QB3, the Colts have almost no reason to release him.
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The Colts would not save any money if they cut Richardson, but they would if they could find a trade partner. Indianapolis would save $5.38 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season if they traded Richardson, though that would’ve been the case if he was traded prior to June 1st.
Keeping Anthony Richardson Sr. around while he focuses on making the most of his situation does less harm than good for the Colts because of Daniel Jones’s rehab. While Jones has been an active participant in individual drills throughout OTAs thus far, having Richardson around for team reps will help the rest of the team.
It’d be best for both parties to find a trade suitor for Richardson ahead of the regular season, but even if he winds up playing out his rookie contract in Indianapolis, having Richardson in the bullpen for the same price as it’d be to cut him is the best course of action.
Grover Stewart
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Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart (90) prepares for a drill Monday, July 28, 2025, during training camp held at Grand Park in Westfield. | Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I’d be remiss not to immediately preface that there is almost no reality where the Colts cut longtime defensive tackle Grover Stewart, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding DeForest Buckner’s return to form as he works back from a serious neck injury, but Spotrac listed Stewart as one of the NFL’s biggest cut candidates.
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I get where they’re coming from, as cutting Stewart would save $12.25 million in cap space, but the Colts are in no position to move on from one of their biggest mainstay contributors without a succession plan in place, especially this deep into the offseason.
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Fourth-year defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore has blossomed into a legitimate piece across the defensive front, and newcomer Colby Wooden has become the Colts’ most underrated move in the offseason, but Indianapolis would be fools to move on from Grover Stewart just to save a chunk of money.
Stewart is 33 years old as he enters the last year of his deal with the Colts, but Indianapolis should be more focused on finding a way to make him a Colt for life as opposed to deciding whether or not they should abruptly fire him just as OTAs have kicked off.
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Jaylon Jones
Dec 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones (40) reacts in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Jaylon Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract and may ultimately serve as the Colts’ surprise training camp cut once it’s all said and done. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme proved to be ill-suited for Jones during their first season together in 2025, therefore his potential release would more so be due to a schematic disconnect.
June 1st wouldn’t affect Jones’s dead cap situation, though; therefore, his release will save the Colts $3.74 million in cap space regardless of its designation.
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Jones is by no means lacking in talent, but it was evident that his playstyle isn’t something Lou Anarumo covets. Colts 2025 UDFA signing Johnathan Edwards started in five games as a rookie compared to Jones’s two starts in Anarumo’s first year, and with an even deeper cornerback room heading into 2026, Jones will have to prove himself as someone you can’t stomach cutting if he wants to make the opening-day roster.
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