INDIANAPOLIS — Fuel strategy enabled Kyle Larson to claim victory in the Brickyard 400 in his second trip to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this year.

It was the first time in four years the Brickyard 400 returned to the 2.5-mile oval after being contested on the road course for three years. It marked the 30th year for the NASCAR race on the famed oval.

The victory was redemption for Larson, who competed in the Indianapolis 500 in May and earned rookie of the year honors with an 18th-place finish following a speeding penalty on pit road.

It was a popular victory Sunday with the fans at IMS.

Larson said plans are being made for returning for the 2025 Indianapolis 500.

“It’s surreal to win here,” he said of the victory in one of NASCAR’S crown jewel races.

Larson now only needs a win in the Daytona 500 to complete the set. He has already won the Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

“I love you Indiana fans,” Larson said in victory lane. “It’s such a prestigious place and such hallowed ground.”

It was Larson’s fourth win of the year and the 11th Brickyard 400 victory for Hendrick Motorsports.

With 30 laps remaining, Larson was running 23rd. With leader Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney conserving fuel, he made a charge to the front.

With eight laps remaining, Larson was up to third place.

The eighth caution flag waved on Lap 198 when Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin made contact.

Coming to the restart on the green-white-checker finish, Keslewoski pitted for fuel, and before a lap was completed the race was red-flagged for a five-car crash.

Larson had taken the lead from Blaney, with pole-sitter Tyler Reddick running third.

On the final restart, Larson was able to maintain the point with Reddick passing Blaney on the next-to-last lap.

The yellow flag waved on the final lap for an incident involving Ryan Preece. But NASCAR officials determined the race was concluded.

Hamlin, looking for his first win at IMS, was on a different fuel strategy early in the race by pitting on Lap 25 and winning the first stage.

Hamlin and John Hunter Nemechek stayed on the track after the second stage at Lap 100 and pitted on Lap 109 with Indiana native Chase Briscoe.

Keselowski took the lead on Lap 124 and tried to stretch his fuel for the final 56 laps before the caution with two laps remaining ruined the effort.

Austin Cindric started 38th in the field and drove to a seventh-place finish as the biggest mover of the event.

Four-time Brickyard 400 champion Jimmie Johnson started 33rd and finished 33rd after being caught up in a wreck on Lap 109 with Joey Logano.

There were 10 caution periods for a total of 34 laps and 18 lead changes among 13 drivers.