The only thing more audacious than attempting “The Double” once is daring to go for it again. And if there’s one driver with the guts and grit to chase that elusive feat, it’s Kyle Larson. Determined to cement his name alongside Tony Stewart in motorsports history, Larson set his sights on the legendary Indianapolis 500 in 2024. But in a dramatic twist of fate, after making the cross-country dash to Charlotte, Larson found himself racing against the clock—and the weather.
At Charlotte, rain delays cut the race short, dashing Larson’s dreams of pulling off “The Double” that year. But champions don’t give up easily. In a recent press conference alongside Rick Hendrick, the No. 5 Chevrolet driver announced his ambitious plan to try again, ready to conquer both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in a single day. Buckle up, because although Rick Hendrick agreed to let his driver try again, there was one very specific condition that came with it.
Kyle Larson’s second attempt at The Double
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For the 2024 Indianapolis 500, Kyle Larson teamed up with Pato O’Ward, and they both drove for the Arrows McLaren team. Although this year was not the best for him with a P18 finish, his teammate came in second. The cards did not play out in Larson’s favor, as he ended up missing the Coca-Cola 600, and for redemption time, the two-time Cup Series Champion will get into the McLaren again.
In a news update from Jordan Bianchi, the reporter revealed that Rick Hendrick and Kyle Larson have officially confirmed that 2025 will be round 2 at The Double for the HMS driver. Taking on the double means racing across 1,100 miles on the same day, for which Larson will have to catch a flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte between the races.
No doubt attempting the double is a harrowing task, but Larson is prepared and totally up for it. Surely he will not let his second chance slip away. While Rick Hendrick supports Larson’s decision, according to Jeff Gluck, the team boss has put up a condition that states that in the upcoming year, the Coca-Cola 600 will be the driver’s priority and for the right reasons. NASCAR has been on Rick Hendrick’s back to make sure that Larson draws in as much TV screen time to keep his fans invested in the race.
Kyle Larson is a full-time NASCAR driver, and it’s only fair that his team expects him to focus on the Cup Series. Now there is one obstacle that might prevent Larson from racing the Indy500, and that is NASCAR. While the officials had signed the waiver for letting Larson compete in another series, there is no telling that they will do the same next year.
Rick Hendrick says the team will prioritize the 600 no matter what this time. https://t.co/ybCfGVlkEc
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) September 10, 2024
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Is NASCAR's hesitation holding back Kyle Larson's potential greatness? What are they afraid of?
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Despite NASCAR not wanting one of their most popular drivers to be missing at the longest race of the season, Hendrick gives the driver the liberty to pursue his dreams. NASCAR has their reservations considering the chance that their viewership might drop if Larson does not race at Charlotte.
What did the team owners say about Kyle Larson attempting The Double?
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For the Double, Kyle Larson will be racing for McLaren in the Indy500 and for Hendrick Motor Sports at the Coca-Cola 600. The two team owners have met each other on common grounds when it comes to their expectations, and Rick Hendrick went ahead to say that the partnership “couldn’t be a better marriage.”
Zak Brown, the energetic person he is, is glad to have Larson race for him, as he has been on a mission to make McLaren one of the biggest names in motorsport racing. He was quite happy with the performance that Larson put together in 2024, now he has hopes that 2025 does them better.
Brown is happy that some of Larson’s NASCAR fans might take a liking to Indycar after seeing the star driver race in both formats. The crossover between the two sports gives more fans a common ground to celebrate motorsports and one of the biggest fans of the idea happens to be Zak Brown.
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Taking all this into consideration, do you think Larson will be able to complete the 1,100 miles of racing on Memorial Day 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Is NASCAR's hesitation holding back Kyle Larson's potential greatness? What are they afraid of?