Former NASCAR champion Kyle Larson becomes fifth driver to accomplish rare American racing feat
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For the tenth time in the history of American racing, a driver has pulled off the monumental feat of competing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the grandest spectacles in all of auto racing while the Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the NASCAR calendar.
Both races are run on the final Sunday in May - which, along with the Monaco Grand Prix, makes for one of the greatest days in motorsport.
Now, Kyle Larson - the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series driver's champion - has become the fifth driver to ever pull what they refer to as 'Double Duty'.
Earlier in the day, Larson hopped into the cockpit of his No. 17 Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports machine to race in the Indy 500.
But on lap 92 of 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing', Larson spun out and his race came to an end.
Kyle Larson has officially become the fifth driver to pull off 'Double Duty' in American racing
Larson ran 92 laps in the Indianapolis 500 before crashing out and ending his day early
Hours later, he turned up in Charlotte, North Carolina to race in the Coca-Cola 600
While disappointing, it also gave Larson plenty of time to get himself to the airport to take the 1 hour, 40 minute flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte, North Carolina.
He arrived by helicopter at Charlotte Motor Speedway with plenty of time to get himself ready for the NASCAR race that evening - for which he qualified on the front row.
When the green flag dropped, he officially joined a small list of drivers to have accomplished the feat.
But that too didn't end like he hoped as Larson crashed twice in the race - with the final collision on lap 246 being the one to end his lengthy day.
Last year, he attempted this same marathon day of racing, but Mother Nature had other ideas.
First, the 2024 Indy 500 was delayed several hours as relentless thunderstorms rolled through the Hoosier State.
Larson finished the race 18th and then sprinted to the airport to make it to North Carolina, which was also hit with rain showers.
Unfortunately for Larson, the 2024 Coca-Cola 600 was called off due to the rain and Christopher Bell was declared the winner before Larson had any chance to hop in his car.
But now, in 2025, Larson can officially add his name to the list of immortal drivers to accomplish the daunting task.
Last year, Larson tried to accomplish this same feat only to be undone by the weather
He finished 18th in 2024 (above), but couldn't get to Charlotte in time to get in his NASCAR
But by virtue of wrecking early in 2025 (above), he had plenty of time to get to North Carolina
He's the fifth driver to accomplish the feat. Tony Stewart (above) has the best results of anyone who has competed in both races - when he came 6th in Indy and 3rd in Charlotte in 2001.
It was first accomplished in 1994 by John Andretti, the nephew of 1978 Formula One World Driver's Champion Mario Andretti.
It's since been accomplished by Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and now Larson. Davy Jones attempted it in 1995, but failed to qualify for the Coca-Cola 600.
Of those who attempted the feat, only Stewart and Gordon have completed it multiple times.
Gordon did so in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004. However, his attempts in 2000 and 2004 have asterisks next to them. In 2000, Gordon didn't receive official credit for taking over past lap 254 of the 400 lap NASCAR race. In 2004, Gordon was credited with participating in the Indianapolis 500 - but left during a rain delay to get to Charlotte.
Stewart ran 196 of 200 laps in the 1999 Indy 500 before running all 400 laps in Charlotte. In 2001, he became the only driver to run every lap of both races - completing all 1,100 miles in a day.
Stewart, one of the greatest race car drivers the United States has ever produced, holds the best results among anyone doing 'Double Duty' from his 2001 attempt. He finished sixth at Indianapolis and third in Charlotte.
Daily Mail
