Coca-Cola 600 Weather Update: Kyle Larson Retains Indy 500 Start After Rainy Weather Forces Rejection for NASCAR

Bad weather in greater Indianapolis has jinxed and, ultimately, proved to be a worst-case scenario for Kyle Larson’s attempt to run “The Double” on Sunday. Putting Kyle Larson in a tricky spot with his Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double attempt. The Hendrick Motorsports driver stayed in Indianapolis to race in the Indy 500 and missed the start of the Coca-Cola 600.

Unfortunately, it looked like rain was going to play spoilsport and jeopardize his chances. Persistent rain and lightning put the Indianapolis 500 in line for a 4:45 p.m. ET start, meaning the HMS star driver could not run both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in full as planned.

Not just heavy rain, there was heavy lightning in the area. After all, Hendrick Motorsports and Larson made a wise decision. HMS confirmed Sunday afternoon that Larson would stay in Indianapolis, and he took the green flag from the fifth position, where Kyle Larson led a handful of laps but had to pit from the lead for fuel issues, as Indy is known for. It looks like his plan now is to board a plane and fly to Charlotte to join the in-progress Cup Series race. And at Charlotte, it’s already three stages on, and Larson is yet to reach.

“I would definitely love to be back next year,” Larson said after the race. “I feel like I learned a lot throughout the race. I made a couple of mistakes early on the restart, but felt like I did a really good job on the restarts. … Obviously, I smoked a left-front or something on the green-flag stop and killed our opportunity. I’m proud to finish, but I’m pretty upset at myself. I just could have executed a better race. You never know what could have happened.”

Owing to the weather conditions that ruined it for Larson, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway decided to put the pre-race ceremonies on hold. Additionally, all of the fans were relocated for their own safety until the conditions were favorable.

And it didn’t sit well with the fans, as many were heard calling out “Mother Nature“

Sadly, it now seems that making it in time for the Coca-Cola 600 was going to be difficult but not impossible. The best that he can hope for is to make a Stage 4 appearance in the race and get a playoff waiver from NASCAR.

Considering that the weather was threatening both races, many found this situation a bit amusing. Some joked, “MOTHER NATURE DOING THE DOUBLE INSTEAD”. This pretty much referred to the rainy weather interrupting the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. Few even quipped that ‘Mother Nature hates motorsports’ since she ruins them so often.

When there was a period of uncertainty, fans had hope that he could complete the historical double. A fan believed that it would be ironic if the HMS star completed the 1100 miles despite the weather delays. He said, “Okay but how funny would it be if Larson is still able to do all 1100 despite both events receiving rain”.

Few were even thankful that the Coca-Cola 600 was after the Indy 500, “Thank god they start late to accommodate the Indy500”. Some also hoped, “If Larson races Indy, then the Coke 600 starts but is in turn delayed until tomorrow would Larson be able to start the beginning of the delayed race? Hopefully I asked that in the way I was trying to convey it.”

Moreover, not just the weather, but the track wasn’t in favor of Larson today. A win was not on the cards for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion. During the penultimate pit stop phase, he was caught speeding on the pit road and had to pay a drive-through penalty. This dropped him well down the order and out of contention for the win. Until then, he had been running among the leaders and in the Top 6 for a long time.

Once he executed the penalty, he plummeted to outside the Top 20. However, he refused to give up and tried to mount as good of a comeback as he could. Eventually, though, he finished the race in 18th place in a truly valiant effort. Now, the driver will be hopping on a plane to Charlotte, where he hopes to compete in the Coca-Cola 600.