Make it a Double Again: Kyle Larson Gears Up for a Busy Race Weekend

Kyle Larson is set for another action-packed weekend as he takes on both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in a single day. Racing fans are watching closely as Larson, currently the NASCAR Cup Series points leader, attempts this rarely seen “double,” something only a few drivers in history have tried. Read more about this elite group of drivers here.

On Sunday, he will start the Indy 500 from the seventh row, lining up alongside top competitors at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson’s schedule is relentless.

Just days before race day, he balanced national media stops in New York City with time on track in Indianapolis. Even during a busy week, he kept his cool, joking with fellow drivers Callum Illott and Louis Foster before interviews.

He is used to the fast pace, often racing in different series and traveling between dirt track events and NASCAR races across the country. The big difference this Memorial Day weekend is the spotlight and the challenge.

The Indianapolis 500 draws crowds of about 350,000, and Larson’s entry with the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet has caught fans’ eyes. After the Indy 500 checkered flag, he’s scheduled to board a helicopter and fly straight to Charlotte, North Carolina.

There, he will jump into the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the NASCAR Cup Series race. For more details on the NASCAR race in Charlotte, check out the NASCAR Charlotte information. If Larson completes both events as planned, he will be the fifth person to attempt every lap of the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a feat last achieved in full by Tony Stewart in 2001, as documented by NASCAR’s official history page.

Last season, Larson’s attempt at the double was cut short. Rain delays pushed back the Indy 500 start, and he arrived at Charlotte after the race had already begun and been stopped by weather.

The Coca-Cola 600 ended before he could take the wheel. This year, he aims to cover all 1,100 miles, a demanding test that has only been finished once in racing history.

He wrapped up Friday’s practice in Indianapolis with 65 laps completed, his car showing speed in longer runs. His NASCAR teammates flew in for support, and the crowd, many wearing his signature orange and blue, showed strong support around the garage. Details about Larson’s practice can be found here.

Larson’s record is loaded with wins across many motorsports. He has 32 Cup Series victories and is a past champion in NASCAR.

He also has a sports car win at Daytona and continues to show he can adapt to almost any kind of car. NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers like Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. openly back Larson, calling him one of the most dynamic drivers of his generation, as noted in this Motorsport Hall of Fame profile.

Fans in Indianapolis have responded with strong cheers. At the public driver meeting, Larson and teammate Pato O’Ward drew the loudest applause.

Support from Hendrick Motorsports is visible, with team members present at the track and a sea of Larson hats and shirts in the stands. Even drivers from competing teams plan to watch his efforts closely, seeing Larson’s performance as a boost for the sport as a whole.

Heading into race day, Larson says he feels as ready as possible after months of preparation. The weather forecast is promising, and excitement is building.

With only four other drivers ever attempting this grueling doubleheader, only the race results remain. If he completes both events, it will cement his status among the toughest and most versatile racers in history.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.