Scott McLaughlin, a Team Penske driver, crashed during the warm-up laps of the 109th Indy 500, which ended his race and delayed the start. Kyle Larson, who was attempting the double, reacted on team radio by calling McLaughlin an “idiot” and gave him a sarcastic thumbs-up as he passed the stranded McLaughlin.

McLaughlin later revealed that Larson apologized for his sarcastic gesture hours after the race. He shared this in the Detroit GP paddock, explaining that his initial tweet about the incident was meant in good humor. He confirmed that Larson sent him a text apology, and they were on good terms. McLaughlin expressed respect for Larson and said he enjoys teasing other drivers, so his tweet was partly to poke fun at the ongoing “best driver” debate involving Larson.

Fans reacted to the news of Larson’s apology and McLaughlin’s response with mixed opinions. Some praised the sportsmanship, while others noted that the sarcastic thumbs-up was harsh. One fan commented that Pato O’Ward, another IndyCar driver, is more beloved because he wouldn’t apologize for such a gesture. Others remarked that Larson should stick to NASCAR and dirt racing, especially since he crashed out of both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 that weekend.

McLaughlin had already crashed before the Indy 500 Top 12 qualifying and started from P10, but his race ended prematurely due to the warm-up lap crash. Overall, the incident and subsequent apology highlighted the competitive yet respectful dynamic among drivers in IndyCar and NASCAR.