There are plenty of spots for the 2024 Indianapolis 500. These include eight former 500 winners, three former F1 drivers, one Australian supercars icon and one endurance racing legend.
But there is one driver worth noting. That’s Kyle Larson.
Kyle Larson: From NASCAR to Indy 500 and back to NASCAR
Rookie Kyle Larson will be racing in the Indy 500 for the first time this year, but he wasn’t relaxed as he stepped out of his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet after taking the checkered flag. Instead, he plans to fly to Charlotte, North Carolina, to participate in NASCAR’s annual Coca-Cola 600.
Larson isn’t the first driver to attempt to compete in these events back-to-back, but his all-around skill behind the wheel of a Cup Series driver means he’s perfectly poised to become the best of all time. do.
Who is Kyle Larson?
Kyle Miyata Larson, currently a full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, boasts impressive career statistics that set him apart from other drivers. .
He was the first graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, which aims to support minority drivers rising through the stock car ranks. He has also gained a huge amount of open wheel experience in the form of sprint cars and midget cars.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Larson: His career nearly ended in 2020 when he was suspended by both Chip Ganassi Racing and NASCAR for using a racial slur during an iRacing sim event.
He lost lucrative sponsors and became something of a pariah, but in late 2020 it became clear that he had done enough to educate himself.
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Not only did Larson complete the required sensitivity training, but he also traveled to Minnesota after the killing of George Floyd, attended countless classes to learn more about the Black community, and further dedicated himself to providing opportunities for underserved communities to understand the value of STEM education.
In 2021, NASCAR announced that Larson had made enough efforts to educate himself and make meaningful changes and would be allowed to return to competition.
He joined the Hendrick Motorsports team and after his first win of the year in Las Vegas, he began a winning streak, winning 10 of 36 races and also capturing the Cup Series championship.
And that doesn’t include Larson’s other racing activities in 2021. Larson competed in 97 different events that year, including 60 dirt track races, and maintained a 34 percent winning percentage. He has regularly broken his own career records with Hendrick.
Why is Kyle Larson so good?
Kyle Larson is being heralded as a generational talent, and for good reason.
He has proven he can compete with the best drivers in countless disciplines and has established the art of going fast and pushing his equipment to the limits.
Although prone to occasional mistakes in pressure situations, Larson’s “bad days” will turn into career-defining performances in many games.
Proving his skills in everything from short dirt ovals to twisty road courses, he knows how to turn mediocre equipment into something great, and he’s a quick learner behind the wheel of something new.
What is “The Double”?
“The Double” is the name given to the act of consecutively competing in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 following America’s major Memorial Day race, the Indianapolis 500. It is considered one of the most difficult attempts in motorsport, both physically and mentally, and has only been attempted a few times before by a handful of drivers.
The first to accomplish this was John Andretti in 1994, followed by Kurt Busch, Robbie Gordon, and Tony Stewart.
The only driver to complete the 1,100-mile race was Stewart in 2001, when he finished sixth in the Indy 500 for Chip Ganassi Racing and third in the Coke 600 for Joe Gibbs Racing. All other drivers failed to complete all laps in both events.
Kyle Larson will be the first driver in 10 years to take on “double duty.”
What does Kyle Larson’s double weekend look like?
As you can imagine, competing in two major events in a row requires a lot of preparation.
Although he missed NASCAR’s All-Star Race weekend in favor of qualifying, Larson will be busy when it comes to Memorial Day weekend itself.
- Friday, May 24th: Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
- May 25th (Sat): Coca-Cola 600 Qualifying
- Sunday, May 26: Indy 500 followed by Coca-Cola 600
Larson’s participation in both events is contingent on his tight race-day schedule not being altered due to weather or red flags.
Larson has confirmed he intends to compete in the Cork 600 and will do so if he has to withdraw from the Indy 500 early.
But if all goes to plan, Larson will launch his jet soon after exiting his Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, ideally after completing all 200 laps.
Yes, even if he wins, the post-race celebration will have to be cut short!
What are Kyle Larson’s double odds?
We won’t know where Kyle Larson will start in the Coca-Cola 600 until he qualifies for the race on Saturday, May 25th, but there are many other variables that will help determine his success.
First, Larson started the Indy 500 in fifth place, or in the middle of the second row.
Historically, a front row start has the best chance of converting a starting position to a race win, but the second row is still a very good position to get the green flag.
Seven different drivers have managed to turn a fifth place start into a win, which is a great sign for Larson.
While only nine drivers have ever won 500 races in their first 500 starts, many of those drivers who have done so — Graham Hill, Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves — were either highly accomplished icons before their Indy 500 debut or would go on to develop even more diverse skill sets after winning.
Larson is hailed as a driver who can drive just about anything. He won the NASCAR Cup Series title in 2021. He has won the Coca-Cola 600 before.
He is a two-time Knoxville Nationals champion, Rolex 24 champion, Chili Bowl winner and currently the NASCAR Cup Series points leader. It’s clear he has the diverse skills needed to accomplish this feat.
But Kyle Larson has another trick up his sleeve. No driver in the history of the double has experienced an IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader day. in front Memorial Day weekend.
On Sunday, May 19, Larson became the first driver after qualifying for the Indy 500 to hop on a plane and fly to North Wilkesboro to participate in NASCAR’s All-Star Race. Larson qualified for the Indianapolis 500 in fifth place. At North Wilkesboro he had to start from last place, but still fought his way to a fourth place finish.
But most importantly, Larson gained valuable knowledge about race day travel planning.
He’s done test drives. He knows what it’s like to leave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a helicopter.
He knows what it’s like to board a plane to North Carolina.
He knows how to leave planes and helicopters on the race track.
He knows what it’s like to spin laps at two different tracks on the same day. It may not guarantee him victory, but it will definitely set him up for success on May 26, 2024.
As for NASCAR, Larson won’t qualify for the Coca-Cola 600 until Saturday, May 25, so his starting position is still unknown.
But it’s safe to say Larson is ready to give his best, considering he has two wins this season and is currently the NASCAR Cup Series points leader.
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