by CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Larson will seek to run the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day in 2025, hoping for sunnier days and clearer nights than he experienced in both races this year.
The announcement was made Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway and included NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Larson will return to race “The Double” in 2025, completing the four-car Arrow McLaren field at the Indianapolis 500.
“I really enjoyed May at Indy and racing with Arrow McLaren, but I was really disappointed not to get to the Coca-Cola 600 with the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team,” Larson said. “I appreciate this second opportunity because we still have some things to work out. I really want to finish the 1,100 miles and I think we have an opportunity to challenge for the win in both events.”
Larson, 32, made an impressive debut on “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2024, winning the Rookie of the Year award after displaying blazing speed throughout the month of May.
He set a single-lap rookie record in Indianapolis 500 qualifying by posting an average speed of 233.543 mph in the first lap of Top 12 qualifying, where he advanced to the Firestone Fast 6.
The Elk Grove, Calif., native qualified fifth for the race and later crossed the finish line on a rain-delayed race day in 18th.
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed four hours due to rain. Larson was unable to start the Coca-Cola 600 in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Justin Allgaier took the wheel of that car with the intention of handing it over to Larson upon his return from Indianapolis.
Shortly after Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway, rain began to fall. The rain continued long enough for NASCAR to declare the race official, as the race was already past the halfway mark. Christopher Bell won the race.
In 2024, it has been dubbed the #Hendrick1100. Larson will once again attempt to go 1,100 miles and take two major victories on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.
Following the 109th running of the Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he will immediately fly to Charlotte to drive his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet stock car in NASCAR’s crown jewel, the Coca-Cola 600, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Arrow McLaren will once again be owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of Hendrick Motorsports.
Larson has driven for the 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions since 2021.
“Kyle had a tremendous month of May and showed what a talented race car driver he is,” Hendrick said. “From a sponsorship perspective, we saw incredible growth for HendrickCars.com and measured a three-to-one return on investment.”
“It was a monumental effort by everyone involved, but we didn’t get the chance to pull it off (due to bad weather).
“Everyone has learned a lot and we will take that into next year. Now that we have experienced it once, we know what to expect, which can only make us better and more prepared. Zak and the team at Arrow McLaren are great partners and we look forward to finishing the job together in 2025.”
Larson’s stint at Arrow McLaren has been impressive and Brown and Hendrick have agreed a deal to bring him back to Indianapolis in 2025.
“Kyle showed us what he was capable of last May, and if he had a second chance with better weather, I think we would all be thrilled to see him challenge for an Indy 500 win and then another at Charlotte,” Brown said. “He is one of the most talented drivers in racing, and it’s a privilege to do it again with Mr. Hendrick and Jeff Gordon, who are both world-class.”
“We can’t wait for May to come.”
Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is one of five drivers all-time to attempt the “one-two” and will become the third to attempt it multiple times, joining Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon. None have won either race, and only one has completed all the laps (Stewart in 2001).
Larson, regarded as one of the most talented drivers in motorsport, will join the permanent Arrow McLaren team of Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard for the historic 500-mile race.
Follow Bruce Martin on Twitter at @BruceMartin_500
