“We have unfinished business,” Kyle Larson boldly declared recently. This year, the Cup Series champion drummed up a hue and cry across two racing series throughout May. Under the backing of Hendrick Motorsports and IndyCar team Arrow McLaren, Larson attempted the prestigious ‘Double.‘ However, the rain played spoilsport with the stellar racer’s ambitions.

Yet considering his speeds and overall showing, Larson proved that he can ace the Indy 500 race. So McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, has a mission at hand—to converge one of the greatest racers in the world and the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. And 2025 is his target.

Kyle Larson and Co. will be better prepared this time

233.543 mph—that was the speed Kyle Larson posted in the opening round of qualifying for the Indy 500 race. It earned him a 5th-place qualifying spot that the Hendrick Motorsports driver utilized optimally. Larson ran mostly in the top-10 in the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevy during the final race. But a speeding penalty ultimately stuttered his chances as Larson finished 18th. Then, after he jetted from Indianapolis to Charlotte, the rain continued to be a thorn in his Double ambition, as Larson could not start the Coca-Cola 600.

Clinching the rookie of the year honors for his Indy 500 speeds, Kyle Larson showed promise. That is fueling Zak Brown to get on a war footing for Larson’s 2025 Double plans. In a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR, Brown admitted to doing everything to stop the rain. “It is definitely a possibility and I think we learned a lot this year. We talk about what we do…and collectively have a grand gameplan B, if you like, but we just hope it doesn’t happen.” That grand plan involves 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan.

To help Kyle Larson, Kanaan will have to go through a veteran refresher program, as Brown further explained. “So we will have Toby Kanaan ready. We need to get him a little bit of testing as a refresher course. ‘Cause apparently after you have done Indy 24 times you still need a refresher course. He will be our plan B.” 

Yet Kanaan can only start the race in place of Larson, starting at the back of the field regardless of where the latter qualified. Mid-race shuffling is not allowed anymore, according to an IndyCar rulebook alteration in 2016.

However, Zak Brown is more worried about something else. That involves Kyle Larson missing the Indy 500’s reward in case he got the trophy.

Larson may have to kiss Indy an early goodbye

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The 1100-mile ordeal has always been a hectic challenge. In his first attempt in 1999, Tony Stewart complained of fatigue and exhaustion after nearly finishing the double. That is because there is not a second to lose if you want to finish both races in time. This year, luckily for Kyle Larson, NASCAR granted him a waiver considering his special situation. So Larson is clear about his 2025 priorities. “We’re going to be here for the 600, even if that means having to cut the race short at Indy.”

And Zak Brown understands, “I am very respectful of it. Cup is his full-time program and priority.” But professing faith in Kyle Larson’s superior driving prowess, Brown slipped worry about something less important. He hilariously added, “I have a different spin on it. Everyone’s worried about a rain delay. I’m gonna go with a different concern. What if Kyle wins this thing? Is he going to have enough time to drink the milk and kiss the bricks before he has to get to Charlotte? So that’s what I’m gonna stress out about.” 

Evidently, from NASCAR to IndyCar, people are eager to give Kyle Larson a fair chance for the Double. If Rain does not play spoilsport again next year, the HMS star will be sure to make a mark in motorsport history.