Kyle Larson will attempt The Double again in 2025
CONCORD, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren IndyCar team confirmed that Kyle Larson will attempt The Double again in 2025.
Larson will try to run the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then fly to Charlotte Motor Speedway to run the Coca-Cola 600.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion tried “The Double” this year. Larson committed to running the Indy 500 even as the race overlapped with the start of the Coca-Cola 600.
Larson eventually made it to Charlotte, luckily as NASCAR officials displayed the red flag so he didn’t lose any laps. Unfortunately, it was for that same storm system that hit Indy.
A lightning delay turned into a torrential rain storm that eventually cut the race short after 249 of 400 laps without Larson ever turning a lap.
Team owner Rick Hendrick stated Larson will be committed to running the Coca-Cola 600 in 2025. Hendrick even added that if Larson was leading the Indy 500 late in the race and had to go to Charlotte, they would pull him into pit road.
“I owe it to my team to make it to Charlotte to run one of the biggest races that has some of the biggest implications on our season. I’m okay with that,” Larson said.
Tony Kanaan will serve as Larson’s backup driver if they need to take him out of the car.
“I don’t think there could be a better backup driver than Tony Kanaan. I share Tony’s feeling of being out of the car and being out and not practicing for a while, but I trust he will do well,” Jeff Gordon said.
Hendrick stated the success of year one, albeit cut short, guaranteed year two.
“It was way more than we expected, the response for HendrickCars.com. We measure all the leads before the race, during the race and after. Before the race, it was blowing up our site. It was an honor being at Indianapolis and I don’t think I’ll be as nervous next year,” Hendrick said. “Arrow McLaren gave us the exact equipment that the other cars had and were motivated, jacked up like we were. It couldn’t have been a better marriage but weather interfered with that.”
Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, agrees.
“We have some unfinished business to win the Indy 500 and the NASCAR race afterward to partner with Mr. H,” Brown said.
Larson is hopeful after this year’s attempt at The Double left him dejected.
“The goal is to complete 1100 miles or do both. It was really important to me to do both and we didn’t get to do both due to weather. It really feels like unfinished business and do what the others have done to attempt The Double,” Larson said.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com