Kyle Larson ends Indy-Charlotte Double attempts, confirming to reporters ahead of Saturday’s Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta that he will not try the demanding feat again. After two challenging attempts, Larson cited a mix of weather delays, accidents, and logistical barriers as reasons behind his decision.
Disappointment at the Indy-Charlotte Double
Larson, speaking before the upcoming race, made clear his stance about future participation. He had previously taken on the ambitious challenge of competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a test considered among the toughest in motorsports. Larson reflected on his experience, referencing last year’s weather interruptions and his own mistakes this Memorial Day weekend. The 109th Indianapolis 500 started over 45 minutes late due to rain, which set a tense stage for what would become a trouble-filled race. Incidents occurred even before the competition was fully underway—Scott McLaughlin crashed during pace laps, and on Lap 1, Marco Andretti wrecked. As the race continued, rain forced an early caution period around Lap 20. Larson, unfortunately, crashed out of the Indianapolis 500 on Lap 91, finishing 27th overall.
“I will have FOMO from running the Indy 500,”
Larson said, via Dustin Long of NBC Sports. Hopefully, someday I can run that again, but I don’t have any desire to do the Double again. It didn’t go well the last two years. —Kyle Larson, Driver
Challenges With Race Timing and Team Commitments
If Larson had managed to finish the Indianapolis 500, his day was far from over. Rick Hendrick, who oversees Hendrick Motorsports, would have needed to pull him from the car quickly for Larson to reach Charlotte Motor Speedway in time for the Coca-Cola 600’s start. Any delay would have resulted in Larson missing the start and losing all his playoff points for the season, a setback that would end his hopes for a Cup Series Championship bid. This was the last year of Larson’s two-year agreement between Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren.
More Setbacks in Charlotte
Following the Indianapolis leg, Larson started second at Charlotte and appeared competitive with a strong car. He led the race during Lap 42 but spun out on his own, disrupting his momentum. Later, Larson was caught up in a Lap 245 wreck, ending his day prematurely in consecutive major races.
“The Double is just a tough undertaking,”
Larson said. The window of time is too tight. Even if I didn’t wreck, I don’t think I would have made it here on time and probably would have had to end that race short anyways. —Kyle Larson, Driver
Reflection on the Feat’s Difficulties
After his experience at both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, Larson was direct about the strain and difficulties involved. Even with ideal circumstances, the window to transition from one event to the next remains incredibly narrow, increasing both logistical and competitive pressures.
“So, I don’t really think it’s worth it. But I would love to run the Indy 500 again. Just doing the Double I think is just logistically too tough.”
—Kyle Larson, Driver
Implications for His Career and the Sport
Larson’s statements mark a likely end to his Indy-Charlotte Double pursuits, a challenge that only a few drivers in history have completed. While he expressed a hope to return someday to the Indy 500 specifically, the combination of schedule demands, team strategy, and the physical risk has made him reconsider the Double. The episode also highlights how teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren must weigh the rewards and risks for top regional and national series competitors such as Larson, particularly as these events push the boundaries of what is logistically possible within elite motorsport.
