Kyle Larson’s decision not to participate in the 2026 Indy 500, following his previous attempts to race both the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, has been described as a major relief by Arrow McLaren’s team principal Tony Kanaan. The Kyle Larson Indy 500 absence comes after NASCAR’s new rules prevented drivers from missing series races without a medical or emergency reason, forcing competing teams to reconsider their plans and strategies for the event.
Laws of Scheduling: NASCAR Rules Change Shifts the Landscape
In 2025, NASCAR introduced a pivotal rule that dramatically affected drivers hoping to attempt both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in one day. This change meant that drivers would lose championship points if they missed a race for any reason other than a medical emergency. For Kyle Larson—and for other top drivers as well—the new rule effectively put an end to the possibility of “The Double,” where one races in both iconic events on the same day.
For Larson, these restrictions followed two consecutive years of attempting the double in 2024 and 2025. After his effort in 2025, he acknowledged the challenges and logistics had become insurmountable. Prioritizing his NASCAR commitment, the team at Arrow McLaren had to prepare for contingencies, even naming Hendrick Motorsports’ Tony Kanaan as a backup driver in case Larson was delayed by the tight race-day schedule.
Relief for Arrow McLaren and Tony Kanaan
With Ryan Hunter-Reay confirmed as Arrow McLaren’s 2026 entry, Tony Kanaan expressed considerable relief at being able to concentrate solely on his role as team principal without the pressure of a last-minute return to the driver’s seat. Speaking candidly about the situation, Tony Kanaan reflected on the complexity and anxiety created by having to stand by as an emergency substitute for Larson despite his executive responsibilities:
“Well, huge relief, Bruce. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because, I mean, I drove the car again last year for a few laps. I would do that any day of my life, but it’s helping us to focus now, me, the team, him. To be fair, it was a difficult spot. I’m, like, I don’t understand how I’m running the place, but I can’t make that decision not to be in the race car.”
— Tony Kanaan, Team Principal
The stress and unpredictability of the arrangement had weighed on Kanaan, who recounted one particularly nerve-wracking moment:
“I thought that I’ve been through every single scare moment, tense, nervousness before a 500 in my 26 years. The way I felt last year, I don’t want to ever feel it again when Rocket called me. I was on the grid, dressed like this. He says, Do you have your stuff ready? That there, I was never more frightened in my entire life. I wasn’t ready mentally and everything else,”
added Kanaan
Kyle Larson’s Perspective: The Toll of the Double and Why He Stopped
Larson’s two-year pursuit of “The Double” exposed the considerable difficulties drivers face when trying to compete at both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in such a compressed timeframe. His 2025 attempt was marked by a crash at Indianapolis, after which he was evaluated at the medical center, then traveled to Charlotte Motor Speedway—only to crash again at the NASCAR event. In 2024, a rain delay at the Indy 500 ended his hopes of completing both races.
After these challenging experiences and under the pressure of the new NASCAR scheduling rules, Larson decided it was time to move on from the double, explaining:
“The Double is just a tough undertaking. I think the window of time is too tight. Even if I didn’t wreck (at Indy), I don’t think I would have made it here in time and probably would have had to end that race short anyway. I just 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,”
he added — Kyle Larson, Driver
After the Attempt: Larson’s NASCAR Success and What Comes Next for Arrow McLaren
Despite the setbacks in his bid to race both events, Kyle Larson went on to capture the NASCAR Cup Series title in 2025, reaffirming his status among the elite in motorsports. His withdrawal from the 2026 Indy 500 allows Arrow McLaren to move forward with greater stability, now relying on Ryan Hunter-Reay for the event’s 110th running and enabling Tony Kanaan to dedicate his focus entirely to leadership and team management.
The evolving landscape—shaped by NASCAR’s rule change and the logistical realities of competing in both races—has prompted teams and drivers to reconsider their strategies and priorities in high-stakes motorsport. Heading into future editions of the Indy 500, Arrow McLaren’s clear leadership direction and defined driver lineup are likely to enhance their ability to compete at the highest level, while the sport at large weighs the ongoing impact of such regulatory shifts.
