IndyCar team Arrow McLaren and NASCAR Cup Series team Hendrick Motorsports confirmed that their partnership is set to continue into 2025 and that Kyle Larson is set to return for a second Indy 500 attempt at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend in May.Larson attempted to become the fifth driver to pull off the Memorial Day Double this past May, but his attempt was cut short. In 2025, NASCAR star Kyle Larson is preparing for another shot at the Memorial Day Double, one of the most grueling and prestigious challenges in motorsports. This involves competing in two of the biggest races on the same day: the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the IndyCar Series, and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s a feat that requires exceptional skill, endurance, and timing, as it involves racing a total of 1,100 miles in two different states, all within the span of a single day.
In 2023, Larson made his first attempt at the Memorial Day Double, but his bid to join an elite group of drivers who have successfully completed the challenge was cut short by unforeseen circumstances. Rain delayed the start of the Indianapolis 500, forcing Larson to stay in Indianapolis longer than expected. After a solid qualifying run, starting fifth on the grid, he remained competitive throughout the race, running inside the top 10. However, a late pit road speeding penalty dropped him down the order, and he finished a disappointing 18th.
As Larson’s time in the Indy 500 dragged on, the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte was also plagued by rain. By the time Larson made his way to North Carolina after finishing the Indy 500, the NASCAR race had already been halted, and with enough laps completed for the event to be considered official, it was called off. Larson, who had been hoping to complete the full Memorial Day Double, became the first driver in nearly three decades to start just one of the two races. He also lost a crucial chance to earn points for the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season championship, ultimately missing out on the title by just a single point. That one point could have been gained simply by showing up in Charlotte to compete in the Coca-Cola 600, which compounded the frustration of Larson’s double-race ambitions.The decision to prioritize the Indianapolis 500 in 2023 made sense at the time, given the prestige of the event and Larson’s opportunity to compete with Arrow McLaren, one of the top teams in IndyCar. However, for his second attempt in 2025, the situation has evolved. Both Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, Larson’s NASCAR team, have agreed to continue their partnership, allowing Larson another chance to race in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600. However, team owner Rick Hendrick has been clear that the priority this time around will be the NASCAR event. Should rain or any other delay threaten Larson’s ability to make it to Charlotte on time, he won’t start the Indy 500.
This decision has brought up several important questions and challenges for both Larson and his teams. One of the biggest concerns is the possibility of Larson having to abandon his Indy 500 run midway through the event if the race is delayed or if there’s any indication that he won’t make it to Charlotte on time for the start of the Coca-Cola 600. Hendrick hinted at the controversial idea of pulling Larson from the car while the race is ongoing if necessary. This possibility has sparked debate in the motorsports community, as many believe the Indianapolis 500, one of the most iconic races in the world, should not be interrupted in favor of a NASCAR race, even one as significant as the Coca-Cola 600.
Given the unpredictability of weather and race conditions, a contingency plan is being considered. If Larson cannot start or finish the Indy 500, Arrow McLaren has lined up a backup driver for the 2025 event: 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan. Kanaan, who retired from full-time IndyCar racing in 2023, remains a beloved figure in the sport and now serves as a sports director for Arrow McLaren. Despite announcing his retirement, Kanaan has maintained his involvement with the team and, if needed, he could return to the driver’s seat to fill in for Larson in 2025.
Kanaan, who will be approaching his 50th birthday in 2025, is expected to undergo a veteran refresher test in either October 2024 or April 2025 during the annual open test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This test is required for any driver who has been away from IndyCar for a significant period, ensuring that they are still capable of competing at the high speeds and precision required for a race like the Indy 500. While Kanaan’s participation as a backup driver has been mostly speculative, the possibility of him making a sensational comeback for his 24th Indy 500 appearance is becoming more and more real.If Kanaan does indeed step in for Larson, it would mark a fascinating turn of events. Kanaan has always been a fan favorite, and his return to racing would likely generate significant excitement and media attention. However, IndyCar rules present another hurdle: the driver who starts the race must finish it. This rule means that if Kanaan starts the race for Larson, he must be the one to finish it. There is no opportunity for Larson to rejoin the race later, even if he makes it to Indianapolis after completing the Coca-Cola 600.
The logistics of attempting the Memorial Day Double are complex, and Larson’s 2025 attempt will be no different. Completing both races requires more than just physical and mental stamina. It demands near-perfect timing, coordination between teams, and a little bit of luck, particularly when it comes to weather. In addition to the time it takes to complete each race, there’s the challenge of travel. After finishing the Indy 500, drivers attempting the Double must immediately fly to Charlotte, often with only a few hours to spare before the start of the NASCAR race. Any delays at either track can have a significant impact on the success of the attempt.In motorsports history, only a handful of drivers have successfully completed the Memorial Day Double. The first to do so was John Andretti in 1994, and others followed, including Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Kurt Busch. Stewart remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles in both races in a single day, a feat he accomplished in 2001. Kurt Busch was the most recent to attempt the Double, finishing sixth in the 2014 Indy 500 and later completing the Coca-Cola 600, though an engine failure took him out of the NASCAR race before the finish.
For Larson, his 2025 attempt will not only be about redemption after the disappointment of 2023, but also about cementing his legacy as one of the most versatile and accomplished drivers in modern motorsports. As a NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the sport’s most talented drivers, Larson has already proven himself on the stock car racing stage. Now, he has the chance to add his name to the short list of drivers who have conquered the Memorial Day Double. However, with the pressure of managing his NASCAR obligations, the possibility of rain delays, and the looming presence of Tony Kanaan as a backup, his journey to completing the challenge is anything but straightforward.
The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025. Whether it will be Larson or Kanaan taking the green flag for the No. 17 McLaren-Hendrick Chevrolet remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the drama and excitement surrounding Larson’s second attempt at the Memorial Day Double will be a major storyline in the world of motorsports for the coming year.
Hendrick said the Coca-Cola 600 was Larson’s priority, meaning if it rains again in Indianapolis in 2025, he won’t start the race. That statement comes after Larson missed out on the regular-season Cup Series championship by a single point, a point he would have earned just by competing in Charlotte. Hendrick also hinted that Larson would be removed from the car while driving if any delays suggested he would not make it to Charlotte on time, although this approach was highly controversial. Who will replace Kyle Larson? 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan made what was supposed to be his 22nd and final start in the 2023 Indy 500. Since it was technically his fourth Indy 500 since his tour was announced on the first Last Lap, many joked that Kanaan, who is now Arrow McLaren. sports director, you will find your way back in a car in 2024. That did not happen, despite the speculation that he may be called to replace Larson in May. Due to the fact that he had not completed a veterans rehabilitation test, he was not eligible to replace the driver of Chevrolet No. 17.It didn’t matter, of course, because Larson decided to stay and race, in which case only Nolan Siegel, the rookie who failed to qualify for the race with Dale Coyne Racing, would have been allowed. to take his place. But with the Coca-Cola 600 being Larson’s stated priority in 2025, Kanaan is ready to accommodate the veteran’s request for a refresher test in October or April during the annual open test. the oval 4,023 kilometers (4,023 miles) at Speedway in Indiana. And so Kanaan, who is expected to turn 50 later this year, is officially Larson’s backup driver for the 2025 Indy 500.
One thing to note is that if Larson is Kanaan is not allowed to replace IndyCar has given no indication that it intends to change this rule. Each car must be driven by only one driver throughout the race; the driver who starts the race must be the one who finishes it. The 109th running of the Indy 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025. Will Larson will make his second start at “the greatest show in racing,” or Kanaan will stage a sensational comeback for the 24th, including, not too long ago, everyone was joking to be true?
