This grueling challenge, known as the ‘Double,’ has been attempted by only five drivers historically, and involves competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Kyle Larson recently took on this formidable task, but his attempt didn’t go as planned.
Larson had set his sights on completing the Double this season. Unfortunately, rain disrupted his plans, preventing him from starting the Coca-Cola 600. Despite this setback, Larson is determined to try again in 2025, even though NASCAR has expressed concerns about the idea.
Kyle Larson and Rick Hendrick are planning a press conference to address the Double challenge. Larson’s first attempt was far from ideal. After finishing 18th in the Indianapolis 500, Larson traveled to Charlotte via two helicopters and an hour-long flight. By the time he arrived, it was too late, and Justin Allgaier took over Larson’s car for the race.
NASCAR has expressed its reluctance about having one of its prominent drivers miss a race, but Kyle Larson and his team owner, Rick Hendrick, are organizing a press conference to advocate for Larson’s return to the challenge in 2025. According to Jordan Bianchi, Hendrick Motorsports and McLaren have scheduled the press conference for Tuesday in Charlotte, featuring Larson, Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, and Zak Brown to discuss Larson’s future attempt.
In May, before his initial Double attempt, Larson partnered with Pato O’Ward, who finished an impressive second in the Indianapolis 500 for McLaren. Larson had previously shared his enthusiasm for the challenge, stating, “It’s important to me because it’s a cool challenge that only four other drivers—until now—have managed. I’ll be the fifth. Doing something that few people have achieved is pretty neat, and racing two different types of cars on the same day is really exciting.”
Larson’s ambition to complete the Double has been clear since he first expressed his desire to win either or both races. McLaren’s Zak Brown has praised Larson’s versatility and talent, likening him to racing legends like Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti. “Kyle Larson is one of those rare drivers who can race anything,” Brown said. “We’re thrilled to have him in our car for the Indy 500. He reminds me of greats who could drive any vehicle as fast as anyone. Having him join us is extremely exciting.”
