NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One NASCAR championship down and Ryan Blaney already has his eyes on one other prize: the Indianapolis 500.

Roger Penske stated Thursday that NASCAR’s reigning Cup champion had inquired about sometime working “The Best Spectacle in Racing,” however “The Captain” pumped the brakes.

“It is attention-grabbing to me that Blaney stated to me that he’d regarded to go to Indy,” Penske stated forward of Blaney and Crew Penske’s coronation as Cup champions. “I stated we will must decelerate slightly bit. We’ll have everyone coming to Indy.”

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Kyle Larson will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in Could and grow to be the primary driver since Kurt Busch in 2014 to aim to finish each the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day. 5 drivers have tried it 9 instances, and solely Tony Stewart has accomplished all 1,100 miles.

Blaney’s curiosity in doing the double was revealed Thursday by Penske, who stated Larson staff proprietor Rick Hendrick approached Penske about working Larson within the Indy 500. Penske stated he declined a partnership as a result of Crew Penske had to enhance its personal three-car Indy 500 effort earlier than taking up one other driver.

Josef Newgarden received the Indy 500 final Could for Penske’s nineteenth win within the iconic race; Hendrick took the Larson deal to McLaren, which can discipline a automotive for Larson within the 2024 race.

Blaney admitted Thursday that “I’ve poked round that concept with RP for a few years now, and we’ll must see the place that goes” in regards to the Indy 500.

“I really feel like not many individuals can do the double. It could be neat to only do it,” Blaney stated. “I’ve respect for all types of motorsports. So I believe you wish to go expertise one thing like that. At my age, it will be excellent to do it. I believe the nostalgia of it, having the ability to say you ran 1,100 miles on in the future on the racetrack, is fairly particular.”

Blaney turns 30 on Dec. 31.

Blaney’s curiosity in Indy was information to Larson, who’s deep into his IndyCar immersion. However on the subject of doing the double, Larson desires to see a number of the IndyCar drivers strive NASCAR.

“I’d like to see a Josef Newgarden come run the Coke 600,” Larson stated. “A whole lot of the fellows come from the NASCAR facet do it, so it will be attention-grabbing to see the opposite facet of the change.”