Lando Norris has left the door open to a potential Indianapolis 500 entry after spending Monday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following his retirement from the Canadian Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver, who suffered a gearbox failure at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday, flew directly to Indianapolis for a full immersion into IndyCar culture on the same weekend as the legendary 500-mile race. His visit included reunions with former teammate Daniel Ricciardo and Indy 500 finisher Conor Daly, a tour of McLaren’s Indianapolis base, and a ride around the oval with Arrow McLaren team boss Tony Kanaan in a Corvette.
Norris also congratulated 2026 Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist and explored the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum alongside McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and Team Penske owner Roger Penske.
Not Saying No to the Speedway
When asked whether the Indy 500 could feature in his racing future, Norris refused to rule it out.
I never know. You never know. I don’t want to say no.
The 2025 world champion elaborated on his broader appetite for racing beyond Formula 1, expressing interest in multiple disciplines.
I certainly want to try things outside of Formula 1. I love Formula 1 more than anything but at the same time, I love everything. I love bikes, I love rally, I love IndyCar – just all racing in general. Whether it is the Indy 500 or just IndyCar in general.
While Norris stopped short of making any commitment, his response marked a clear shift from dismissing the idea entirely to acknowledging it as a genuine possibility.
Triple Crown Ambitions Take Shape
McLaren’s substantial presence in both Formula 1 and IndyCar, combined with the team’s upcoming endurance racing programme, has reignited conversation about motorsport’s Triple Crown — winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Norris addressed the Triple Crown directly, noting his progress toward the achievement.
It’s obviously part of the Triple Crown for McLaren as well. I won Monaco, which is part one done. Obviously got a championship now under my belt. There are two more to do.
The British driver admitted the concept hadn’t been a priority until recently, but his visit to Indianapolis has clearly shifted his perspective.
I’ve never had a thought about trying to achieve the Triple Crown, but obviously I’ve ticked one of the boxes already. Now I’ve come here. It’s a warm-up for it all.
He cited Fernando Alonso’s attempted Indy 500 entries as inspiration, acknowledging how high-profile attempts by other drivers make the prospect more appealing.
Seeing Fernando attempt it and things like that always makes it more inviting. So you never know.
A Staged Approach
Rather than committing to racing the full 500 miles, Norris suggested a more gradual introduction to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
I would want to experience it. Maybe not that actual race at the minute, but just a lap around here in an IndyCar would be pretty gnarly – maybe one day.
The staged approach — first a lap, then potentially more — indicates genuine interest tempered by respect for the challenge. The Speedway’s unique demands, including sustained speeds exceeding 230 mph in traffic, represent a significant departure from road course racing.
For now, Norris returns his focus to Formula 1 with the championship battle still unresolved. But his Indianapolis visit has achieved something concrete: transforming the Indy 500 from a distant concept into a legitimate future possibility. McLaren’s dual presence in both championships makes the logistics feasible, and Norris has now publicly acknowledged his interest.
The next chapter of Norris’s career remains to be written in Formula 1, but a second chapter featuring the Speedway no longer seems far-fetched. Monaco is checked. The championship is secured. Two boxes remain on the Triple Crown checklist — and one of them now sits firmly in Norris’s sightline.