Kyle Larson Faces Double Setbacks After Tough Charlotte and Indy Races

Kyle Larson faced a long, difficult Sunday as he tried to complete the famous racing Double—competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in one day. This challenge means running nearly 1,100 miles of racing within hours, a feat that only a handful of drivers have ever attempted, as documented in the history of motorsport endurance events.

In 2025, Larson became just the fifth person to try this, but his effort ended in disappointment after crashes took him out of both races before the finish. Rain in Indianapolis led to a delayed start for the Indy 500, pushing the green flag back by nearly an hour.

Larson started the open-wheel race with plenty of hope but crashed out on Lap 92, which was before halfway. This early exit forced him to race against time, rushing to Charlotte Motor Speedway to make the start of NASCAR’s longest race, the 600-mile Coca-Cola 600, later that evening. Read more about his Indy crash.

He managed to arrive just before the scheduled start, stepping into his No. 5 Chevrolet with barely enough time to catch his breath. At Charlotte, Larson started second and stormed into the lead within the opening laps, looking strong out front.

However, trouble struck on Lap 10 when his car slipped up the track in Turns 3 and 4, sliding into the wall and causing damage to the rear and then the front of the car. The Hendrick Motorsports team worked hard to fix the damage and keep him on track, showcasing the engineering challenges of NASCAR repairs.

Crew chief Cliff Daniels called for several pit stops and repairs, but the No. 5 team began losing ground, eventually dropping a lap down during Stage 2 as teammate William Byron cycled to the lead. Despite these setbacks, Larson regained the lost lap at the start of Stage 3.

He managed to work his way up from 26th to 17th in a short amount of time, showing speed even with a wounded car. But his day ended suddenly on Lap 247 when a multi-car incident unfolded.

Chase Briscoe slid into Ryan Blaney, which triggered a chain reaction, and Daniel Suárez spun directly into Larson’s right rear, breaking the suspension and ending his chance at a better result. Larson was scored 37th at the checkered flag, with less than 150 laps completed.

Larson spoke honestly after the race, expressing how tough these Double attempts have become. He mentioned that weather delays and the tight schedule make the task nearly impossible, echoing findings from studies on race logistics. More details on the Indy 500 delay provide insight into the challenge.

“Even if I didn’t wreck at Indy, I don’t think I would have made it here in time,” he said. Larson has now faced weather issues in both attempts—last year rain hit both Indianapolis and Charlotte, and this year only Indianapolis faced a delay.

Still, the result felt the same, with Larson leaving both races early and feeling disappointed. In both events, Larson showed glimpses of speed—especially at Charlotte, where he led 34 of the first 41 laps before his race unraveled.

His frustration was clear, saying, “I wish I could just hit reset and try again tomorrow, but the reality is that’s not gonna happen.” The tough outcome leaves the future of the Double in question, a topic debated in motorsport forums.

Larson said running both races is probably “just logistically too tough” but he still hopes for another shot at the Indy 500 in the future. The efforts by Larson and his team demonstrate the demands and challenges of racing in two major events within hours, as outlined in racing safety research.

Weather, accidents, and time limits made the Double as hard as ever, even for a champion. As the checkered flag waved over Charlotte, the night ended with the No. 5 car in the garage and Larson wondering if the feat is worth another try. More on his Double trouble.

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.