Larson To Try 'The Double' Again, Committed To Running Coke 600

Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The anticipation was in the clouds when Kyle Larson announced over a year ago that he would be attempting ‘The Double’ this year. That being running the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day over Memorial Day weekend.

Unfortunately, rain hampered Larson’s ability to complete the allotted 1,100 miles this past May. Not to worry, Larson has decided to run it back. He will be back to try and qualify for the Indianapolis 500 again next year in a partnership between Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports.

“My is to complete 1,100 miles and get to do both (the Indy 500 and Coke 600), Larson said in a press conference on Tuesday. “A big thanks to Zak (Brown) and Mr. H (Rick Hendrick) for letting me try to live out a dream of doing The Double. It’s about getting those 1,100 miles.”

Larson finished 18th and received Rookie of the Year honors for his performance throughout the Month of May this year. He and Hendrick Motorsports chairman Jeff Gordon made the decision to stick around in Indy despite the three-hour rain delay which impeded his ability to make it to Charlotte in time for the green flag of the Coke 600.

He ended up being granted a waiver from NASCAR to remain in championship contention for skipping the race in favor of the Indianapolis 500. But, Larson and Gordon’s boss, Rick Hendrick, has made it clear that will not be the case this time around.

“We are going to run the Coke 600,” Hendrick said. “If that means having to cut the race short in Indy we will. Because my commitment is to NASCAR. That’s where we run for the championship.”

“This year went the way it did,” Larson added. “I owe it to my NASCAR team to be here and try and win one of the biggest races of the season. I’m okay with that.”

Hendrick added that they will pull Larson out of the car even if he is leading the race in order to make to Charlotte on time.

Thanks to that waiver, plus his four wins this NASCAR season, Larson is among the remaining 12 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Playoffs vying for said championship. Larson was able to get some redemption for his marred Double attempt a few months later as he won the return of the Brickyard 400 to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

Hendrick said that if Larson ends up having to climb out of the car to get to Charlotte Arrow McLaren driving advisor Tony Kanaan will step into the car in his stead.

“I never thought I’d be so excited for someone else driving a race car,” Kanaan said. “I think (Larson’s) calmness through the whole process this past year was truly impressive.”

Both Kanaan and Larson will have to complete a veteran refresher on the IMS oval before they can begin practicing in May. Kanaan will be 50 by the time the April test rolls around.

Larson said he feels much more at ease knowing he’ll be back at Indy next May now that he knows what to expect of the month. Only one driver has ever completed all 1,100 miles of The Double. It was Tony Stewart back in 2001.