Kyle Larson To Attempt Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 Again: What You Need To Know
Kyle Larson To Attempt Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 Again: What You Need To Know
Weather derailed Kyle Larson’s hopes of completing “The Double” in 2024, but he’s ready for a second try at the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same year.
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Last year, racing superstar Kyle Larson was hoping to become the fifth driver in history to race in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same year.
Why is that a big deal? Because the races take place on the same day in different states!
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, and rain in both host cities (Indianapolis and Charlotte, North Carolina) washed away his chance at the milestone.
Even though he was able to prove that his masterful use of modern transportation isn’t limited to just the racetrack – a private jet and two helicopters at least got him to Charlotte – it simply wasn’t meant to be for Larson.
The 32-year-old is persistent, however, and he’s going to attempt “The Double” again in 2025 when both races take place May 25, but as he recently told the Associated Press, the original plan was to only give it two tries.
Will it happen this year?
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Larson continues to stay busy with the NASCAR schedule, his commitment to the ever-growing Kubota High Limit Racing Series (as a co-owner and participant) – really, anything that has tires and a steering wheel – and he certainly has been putting in the time and work to make sure May 25 goes as smoothly as possible.
Of the four drivers to previously compete in both races in the same day – John Andretti (1994), Robby Gordon (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004), Tony Stewart (1999, 2001) and Kurt Busch (2014) – only Stewart was able to complete all 1,100 miles, which he did in 2001.
Larson already has proven he has the skills and experience to handle two completely different types of cars, but to add his name to the list above, he’ll first need better weather than last year.
First, rain in Indianapolis delayed the start of the Indy 500 – Larson’s debut at the event – by four hours.
Even then, after finishing 18th, Larson was able to get from Indianapolis Motor Speedway to Charlotte Motor Speedway with the possibility of at least taking part in the second half of the Coca-Cola 600.
But, again, rain forced delays and an eventual early end to the race, and Larson never had the opportunity to get behind the wheel.
A Look At The 2025 Indianapolis 500 And Coca-Cola 600
The Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge again will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis and is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. It’s a 500-mile trek that requires 200 laps around the 2.5-mile oval.
The Coca-Cola 600, known as arguably the most grueling race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, will be back at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and is set to get underway at 6 p.m. EDT.
The latter, which Larson won in 2021, is a 600-mile journey that includes 400 laps around the 1.5-mile speedway. Learn about the Coca-Cola 600 here.
There’s no doubt Larson and his teams are committed to the plan. They’ve invested much time and money to make sure he’s ready for the challenge and everything is in place to at least give him a chance to succeed.
They also have a year of experience to fall back on. Figuratively, you could call last year a dry run, but, you know, there wasn’t anything dry about it.
Heading into the 2024 Indianapolis 500, Larson had only just recently completed his Rookie Orientation Program, and while he now has much more experience behind the wheel of an IndyCar, there were some hiccups during his open testing session in April.
Read more: Kyle Larson Crashes In Testing For 2025 Indianapolis 500
With all of that said, Larson is prepared. He has learned from last year. He has learned from his mistakes along the way.
In the Indianapolis 500, he’ll be back in his No. 17 Arrow McLaren. In the Coca-Cola 600, it be his familiar No. 5 Hendrick Mostorsports Chevy Camaro. He’s already picked up a pair of wins this season in the NASCAR Cup Series, winning on March 23 and April 13.
Drivers To Race In The Indianapolis 500 And Coca-Cola 600 In The Same Year
- John Andretti (1994)
- Robby Gordon (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004)
- *Tony Stewart (1999, 2001)
- Kurt Busch (2014)
- **Davy Jones (1995)
*Only Stewart completed both races, which he did in 2001.
**Jones attempted the Double in 1995. He qualified for the Indy 500 but failed to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600.
How To Watch The 2025 Indianapolis 500
Coverage of the 2025 Indianapolis 500 (the 109th edition) will be provided by FOX and also can be streamed live on FOXSports.com and the Fox Sports app.
This will be Fox’s first time broadcasting the race, and coverage will begin May 25 at 10 a.m. Eastern.
Josef Newgarden is the two-time defending champion at the Indianapolis 500 and is looking to become the 10th driver in history to win the race at least three times. Another win in 2025 would make him the first drive to win three consecutive times.
FloRacing will provide results, editorial content and more throughout May, as the festivities in Indianapolis will get underway May 13 with the start of practice. Qualifying will be May 17-18.
Schedule For The 2025 Indianapolis 500
How To Watch The 2025 Coca-Cola 600
Coverage of the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 (the 66th edition) also will be part of a new TV agreement, and the move will see the Coca-Cola 600 head to Amazon’s Prime Video, with racing legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. calling the action.
Per the agreement, the NASCAR schedule of races will be spread across FOX Sports, NBC, TNT Sports and Prime Video.
The Coca-Cola 600 will be the first of five consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races on Prime Video, and the run will help wrap the first half of the 2025 season.
Viewers can catch practice and qualifying action on May 24, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern. Formal race coverage will begin May 25 at 5:55 p.m. EDT.
The defending champion at the Coca-Cola 600 is Christopher Bell, who won the rain-shortened 2024 edition when it was called with 151 laps remaining.
Schedule For The 2025 Coca-Cola 600
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