by CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — With NASCAR and the Coca-Cola 600 his priorities, Kyle Larson will attempt the Indianapolis 500 again next season with the caveat that he must leave if rain again ruins his attempt at the “double.”
In May, Larson became the fifth driver in history to attempt to complete 1,100 miles of racing on motorsports’ biggest day. But the start of the Indy 500 was delayed several hours by rain, and since Hendrick Motorsports had spent a lot of money on the effort, they decided to keep it at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“It was unfinished business,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “The weather cost us.”
Larson was a star throughout May, qualifying fifth, but a late-race speeding penalty knocked him out of the race and he finished 18th. He was still named the race’s top rookie.
When Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 600 race had been interrupted by rain and never restarted. He never completed a lap, received no points for the event, and it took a lengthy dispute between Hendrick officials and NASCAR before NASCAR granted Larson an exemption to compete in the playoffs despite missing a race.
Ultimately, Larson’s absence from the 600 cost him dearly, as he fell just one point short of beating Tyler Reddick to win the NASCAR regular-season championship, a title worth 15 extra playoff points. Larson could use those points after a crash early in Sunday’s NASCAR playoff race wiped out nearly his entire lead in the Cup standings.
“We couldn’t control the weather, but it wasn’t planned that we would have to make choices, but we had to make that decision,” Hendrick Motorsports vice president Jeff Gordon told The Associated Press. “It was a group effort, and not necessarily the way NASCAR wanted it to be. But it was the first time he’d done it, the first time we’d done it, and I think Indy had to be the priority.”
“A second time, it won’t be the same. NASCAR knows he’s going to be at the 600. We don’t want to see Reddick in another race.”
Hendrick said Arrow McLaren sporting director Tony Kanaan would replace Larson in the car at Indy if he were to leave for Charlotte. Given Kanaan’s reaction, that was news to him.
“We’re going to run the 600, we’re going to be there for the 600, even if it means we have to cut the race short at Indy, we’re going to do it,” Hendrick said. “My commitment is to NASCAR, that’s where we are, that’s where we’re racing for the championship. And so if bad weather catches up with us, Tony’s going to be in the car.”
Larson followed John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch in attempting both races on the same day. Stewart is the only driver to have completed all 1,100 miles, and he has done so only once out of two.
Larson, who is re-teaming with Arrow McLaren Racing, not only wants to complete the 1,100 miles, but also win at least one, if not both, races.
“I knew as soon as it was over that I wanted to do it again. I didn’t get a chance to do the double and that’s important,” Larson told the AP. “But I also want to win the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. I feel very fortunate to have that opportunity.”
Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, won the 2021 Coca-Cola 600, which was Hendrick’s 269th career Cup victory — the win that passed Petty Enterprises for the most Cup wins in NASCAR history.
The announcement was made Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet Cup Series and his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Indy car were both on display. Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and McLaren general manager Zak Brown were in attendance, having flown in from London and directly to the press conference.
“We still have work to do to try to win the Indy 500 and of course the NASCAR race that’s going to be a few hours later,” Brown said. “To have a legend in our race car is a privilege and an honor.”
Larson’s initial deal was for two years, but 2025 was an option year and Hendrick Motorsports had three months to make its decision. Larson told the AP he knew before the NASCAR race at Indianapolis in late July that he would be back for the 500 in 2025.
Brown said McLaren will give Larson as much testing as necessary, but does not plan to enter him in any races other than the Indy 500.
For now, Larson has work to do in NASCAR.
Larson, who initially led the standings going into Sunday’s race in Atlanta, has dropped to 10th in the standings. Four drivers will be eliminated from the 16-driver playoff field after the Sept. 21 race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR races this Sunday at the Watkins Glen road course in New York.
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