INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — As racing enthusiasts gathered for the iconic Indianapolis 500, the legacy of Kyle Busch was already being honored even before the engines roared to life.
In a touching homage, Dale Coyne Racing adorned Romain Grosjean’s No. 18 car with a font mirroring the style Busch used during his illustrious 14-year tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing, where he drove his own No. 18 car to great acclaim, including two NASCAR Cup Series championships and two Brickyard 400 victories.
Tributes continued with a heartfelt mention during the opening prayer, and at Lap 18, the scoring pylon near pit lane illuminated Busch’s name alongside his birth year and the year 2026.
Despite the hustle and excitement of the Indianapolis 500, the memory of Busch, who achieved an unmatched 234 victories across NASCAR’s three national series, lingered poignantly. The racing world mourned his loss after he passed away at 41 due to severe pneumonia that advanced into sepsis.
“It’s a deep sorrow. You try not to dwell on it because there’s so much going on, you can’t afford to get emotional,” shared Katherine Legge upon her return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Yet, racing has truly lost one of its all-time greats. If you reflect on his history—he was undeniably a legend.”
As Indy held its biggest race of the year, those who knew or competed against Busch raced with a heavy heart.
“How can you not be in shock over the situation?” two-time Indy winner Josef Newgarden said Friday. “I think it just puts into perspective how fragile life is. You just don’t know. Makes me think of his kids, to be honest with you. Gosh, I feel terrible about — I have two sons now. That’s the thing that breaks my heart.”
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