Memorial Day weekend marks the biggest three days of motorsports in the world. Stars of NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1 will be action for some of the biggest races of their seasons.
One driver was set for more than 1,000 miles of racing action. NASCAR Cup Series regular Kyle Larson attempted ‘The Double’ for the second year in a row by racing in both the Indianapolis 500 for Arrow McLaren and the Coca-Cola 600 for Hendrick Motorsports in the same day.
Larson tried the 1,100-mile challenge last year but a rain delay at the Indy 500 kept him from competing at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Another delay cut it close this year but ultimately the 2021 Cup Series champion wasn’t able to finish The Double.
Here’s what happened to Larson and the context of his undertaking:
Larson loses traction on restart, hits the wall
The 2021 Cup Series champion’s attempt at the double comes to an end after losing control on a restart and hitting the wall. Kyffin Simpson and Sting Ray Robb were both caught out in the process and all three will not continue.
This ends Larson’s chance at The Double for the second year in a row after 88 laps in the Indy 500.
Larson working his way back up the order in Indy
The 2021 Cup Series champion started 19th and was as far down as 31st in the early stages of the Indy 500. At lap 50 he’s moved up to 23rd as some drivers cycle through pit stops.
What is ‘The Double’?
It wasn’t possible to do both races on the same day until 1993 when Charlotte Motor Speedway officials installed lights on the track and moved the Coca-Cola 600 to a night race. Given the Indy 500’s earlier start time, that created enough room for drivers to realistically do both.
Completing both events covers 1,100 miles, roughly the distance from New York City to Des Moines, Iowa, in the span of nine hours.
Who was the first driver to attempt ‘The Double’?
In 1994, John Andretti became the first driver to attempt to race both the Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500 on the same day. Andretti was a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver at the time with some previous experience in open-wheel racing.
He finished 10th in the Indy 500 and barely made it to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, arriving via private jet as the national anthem began. He didn’t finish the Coca-Cola 600 and retired after 220 laps due to engine trouble.
Drivers who have attempted ‘The Double’
Andretti was the original but many have raced in both events in the three decades since.
Tony Stewart
1999:
Indy 500: 9th
Coca-Cola 600: 4th
2001
Indy 500: 6th
Coca-Cola 600: 3rd
Robby Gordon
2002
Indy 500: 8th
Coca-Cola 600: 16th
2003
Indy 500: DNF (gearbox)
Coca-Cola 600: 17th
Kurt Busch
2014
Indy 500: 6th
Coca-Cola 600: DNF (engine)
Larson on challenges of Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600
A rain delay of the Indy 500 kept Larson from starting the Coca-Cola 600 in 2024. With no rain on the weather reports for Indianapolis, he’s ready for another attempt this year and confident in both Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports.
‘I wouldn’t be doing it, obviously, if I didn’t feel like I had a shot to win both,’ Larson said. ‘It’s going to be really, really tough. Heck, it’s tough to win any race, let alone two races in the same day in two different types of cars … I look forward to the challenge.’
The physicality that prior drivers struggled with – Stewart said he collapsed after the Coca-Cola 600 in 1999 – isn’t on Larson’s mind too much entering Sunday.
‘At least compared to what I typically do, I don’t think it takes anything much more,’ Larson said. ‘Just staying on top of your hydration throughout this week and on race day especially.’
A nine-hour day behind the wheel is no easy task, especially at speeds well over 200 mph. Larson spent more time preparing for the Indy 500 trackside but feels comfortable in Hendrick Motorsports having everything ready for him in the Coca-Cola 600.
‘Honestly, I think there’s more similarities than there are differences (between IndyCar and NASCAR) even in the way that the cars feel,’ Larson said. ‘Although they look way different, (the cars) drive pretty similar. And then I think the most similar thing is just the race strategy and how the race feels.’
How to watch the 2025 Indy 500
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, Indiana
TV: FOX
Streaming: FoxSports App, Fubo
Watch the Indy 500 with Fubo
How to watch the 2025 Coca-Cola 600
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
TV: N/A
Streaming: Prime Video
Watch the Coca-Cola 600 with Prime Video