On one of the most intense days in motorsport featuring the IndyCar Indianapolis 500, NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, and Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix, Kyle Larson’s daring plan to race all 1,100 miles between Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway ended prematurely. Larson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, crashed on Lap 92 of the Indy 500, forcing him to abandon his attempt to complete the grueling Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 Double on May 26, 2024.
Larson’s attempt to become one of the rare drivers to race both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day—covering 1,100 miles in total—was closely followed by fans and broadcasters alike. Despite leading the opening lap at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, Larson’s day unraveled during the Indy 500 when a spin turned into a crash exiting Turn 4, ending his race at the Brickyard.
Chronology of Larson’s Racing Double Effort
The day began early with Larson at Indianapolis, where the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 started just after 1:35 p.m. ET following rain delays. Larson had qualified 19th in the No. 17 Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and received strong support from the crowd, who recognized him as the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. The energy was high, but Larson was aware of the tight schedule ahead, with a helicopter and plane standby prepared for a swift departure from Indianapolis to North Carolina.
Larson was seen in his car before the race and on the grid, preparing mentally for the challenge. The legendary Roger Penske gave the traditional command to start engines at 1:22 p.m. ET. The race began amid mixed weather, including a 16-minute caution for rain early in the event.
By Lap 75, with just over a third of the race completed, Larson was running in 20th place. However, his position was volatile due to ongoing competition and race conditions. At 2:56 p.m. ET, disaster struck when Larson spun out on Lap 92 and crashed his car, signaling the end of his day at Indianapolis and effectively ruling out any chance to finish the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 Double.
After the crash, Larson was evaluated at the care center and was released without major injuries. Reflecting on the incident during a televised interview, Larson looked disappointed but expressed his intent to move forward quickly. He was officially scored in 27th place after the incident.
Transition to Charlotte and Progress at the Coca-Cola 600
Despite the setback in Indianapolis, Larson’s day was far from over. His helicopter left Indianapolis Motor Speedway shortly after the crash, touching down at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 5:22 p.m. ET and allowing Larson to prepare for the 600-mile NASCAR race set to begin at 6 p.m. ET. Moments before the start, he was shown in the cockpit of his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
The Coca-Cola 600 green flag waved at 6:30 p.m., with Larson leading the first lap—a promising start to his second leg on this unprecedented racing day. However, the opening stage ended under caution at 7:33 p.m. ET following a spin by Alex Bowman, with Larson finishing Stage 1 in 32nd place as the race paused temporarily. Later in the stage, Larson’s day grew more complicated when he spun out from the lead in Turn 4 of Charlotte, sliding through the infield grass, once again bringing out a caution.
Challenges and The High Stakes of the Racing Double
Larson’s attempt to run the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day is considered one of the toughest challenges in motorsports due to the extreme physical and mental demands as well as the logistical hurdles of traveling 430 miles swiftly between venues. Before the race, Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 winner and Larson’s backup driver at Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Motorsports, noted on television the narrow window for Larson to leave Indianapolis and get to Charlotte by 4:07 p.m. ET, emphasizing the tight timeframe involved in making the double possible.
Broadcast personalities Jamie Little and Rob Gronkowski drew comparisons between Larson’s double attempt and Deion Sanders’s unique career of playing in two professional sports simultaneously. These comparisons highlighted the rare and ambitious nature of Larson’s efforts to push the boundaries of what a single day in racing can hold.
Implications and What Lies Ahead for Larson
While Kyle Larson’s Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 Double attempt did not reach completion due to his crash at Indianapolis, his effort remains a testament to his endurance and competitive spirit. The incident underscores the immense challenges of competing in two demanding races in one day, emphasizing the fine line between ambition and risk in professional motorsports.
Larson’s early exit from the Indy 500 after 92 laps, combined with mixed outcomes at Charlotte, will undoubtedly lead to reflection and reassessment of the strategy behind such a double endeavor. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely how Larson bounces back from this intense day and how he approaches future racing challenges. Meanwhile, Alex Palou’s victory at the Indy 500 and Lando Norris’s win at the Monaco Grand Prix mark this May 26 as a historic day for motorsports worldwide.
