Watch: 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson crashes during prep for Indianapolis 500

Larson climbed from the car and said he felt fine, but his Arrow McLaren IndyCar team elected to load up the totaled car and not repair it for the remainder of Thursday's open test session, which was the second of two open test days.

In an interview shortly after the incident, Larson said, "I'm happy to crash my first Indy car and live through it." 

Despite finishing 18th in his first Indianapolis 500 attempt last season, Larson led four laps, set a rookie qualifying record with an average speed of 233.543 mph and was named Rookie of the Year. Thursday marked the first time he had crashed an Indy car, so he at least knows what to expect if a similar situation arises during the lead-up to "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

When he crashed, drivers had increased horsepower as the teams tested the new IndyCar hybrid, which makes its Indianapolis Motor Speedway debut in May.

Larson's next time behind the wheel of an Indy car will be Tuesday, May 13, for practice when preparations for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, pick back up.