Indianapolis (AP) – NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson is gearing up for another attempt at the “double,” one of the most challenging achievements in motorsports, as he aims to complete all laps in the Indianapolis 500 before racing in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
Tony Stewart is the only driver to have successfully accomplished this feat, and that was nearly 25 years ago.
While attempts have been scarce since John Andretti first attempted them in 1994, there remains a strong interest among ambitious drivers. This week, defending Indy 500 champion Joseph Newgarden, Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, and IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou all expressed their desire to take on the challenge.
“Well, there’s definitely a long list of drivers who should give this a try,” said Newgarden, who is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Indy 500 victory. “You’d want to see doubles from most of the field, and it’s a lot of fun.”
However, it’s an enormous task. Stewart remains the only one to have completed the grueling 1,100 miles across the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, in addition to trucks covering approximately 550 miles. It demands significant financial backing, support from both IndyCar and NASCAR teams, and extensive logistical coordination, not to mention favorable weather conditions, mechanical reliability, and avoiding breakdowns.
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, in 2014, signed an agreement to attempt the “double” but was unable to make it to the Coca-Cola 600.
“It’s really tough to align everything,” Newgarden noted. “What Kyle (Larson) is doing now is more complicated than it seems, requiring a solid framework to pull it off. If it were easy, we’d be able to guarantee it. Kyle Busch has openly discussed trying to make this happen.”
So, who else might consider attempting it?
Ryan Blaney is pondering the idea, and given that Team Penske has established programs in both NASCAR and IndyCar, there appears to be considerable synergistic support. But it would require the convincing of Roger Penske, the team owner who controls the IndyCar series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indianapolis 500.
“I’d love to see Blaney take a shot at it someday,” Newgarden remarked.
Scott Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion racing for Chip Ganassi, almost made a bid to try it a few years back when his team had an active NASCAR program. Dixon acknowledged that there are also conflicts to navigate, such as when Honda’s teams might need to drive a Cup Series car equipped with a Chevrolet engine.
“That’s not a simple task,” Dixon admitted. “I have immense respect for those who take that on.”
Dixon then turned to Palou, who was sitting beside him: “Alex, you should go for it.”
“I want to!” Palou replied. “I’d love to try it.”
McLaughlin, another Team Penske driver with significant experience in stock car racing, was asked about tackling both Memorial Day weekend races. Prior to joining IndyCar, McLaughlin dominated the Australian and New Zealand Supercar Series, boasting 56 wins and three championships.
However, since those races occur on road courses and the Coca-Cola 600 is held at the Charlotte Oval, McLaughlin believes that years of experience in stock cars may not easily translate to a Cup Series vehicle.
“The only time it’s a consideration is if it’s road course to road course,” he explained. “But the oval presents a completely different challenge. If I were to attempt a ‘double’, I’d prefer to race on an oval before heading to Charlotte.”
Larson’s attempt is a collaborative effort between Hendrick Motorsports on the NASCAR front and McLaren on the IndyCar side.
Last year, he aimed to complete all 1,100 miles, but rain threw a wrench into his plans. Larson managed to finish the rain-affected Indy 500 before making a helicopter trip to Charlotte, only for the remainder of the NASCAR race to be postponed before he could take the track.
As for Sunday’s forecast? It looks a bit chilly but is expected to remain dry.
“We feel that Hendrick’s team is doing an excellent job coordinating logistics and motorsports to ensure everything runs smoothly,” Larson stated. “Yes, last year’s Indy 500 had a weather delay, but apart from that, everything went well travel-wise. So, as far as I know, this year should be no different.”
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