Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, recently discussed why he never pursued the challenge of running the Indy 500 and the Coke 600 on the same day, commonly referred to as ‘The Double,’ a feat attempted by Kyle Larson. Gordon shared his thoughts during a recent press session, highlighting how his focus and approach differed from Larson’s.
Gordon admitted that although he considered the idea, especially after observing Larson’s second attempt at the Double, he knew it was not something he could have pulled off. Working alongside Larson gave him a unique perspective on the experience, but Gordon’s mindset was quite different.
Gordon’s Focused Racing Mindset Kept Him from Pursuing Multiple Events
When asked about why he never tried the Double, Jeff Gordon explained that his racing philosophy always revolved around concentrating on one team, one car, and one goal. He said,
“I just don’t think there are many Kyle Larsons, you know, I was always the type of driver where I was very laser focused on one team, one car, one kind of goal. And and you know, it’s just the way that my mindset and my efforts were. There’s a reason why I didn’t go back and forth and run sprint cars and and midgets and other types of cars. And it just wasn’t the thing that I did throughout my career other than when I was trying to make it into NASCAR.” —Jeff Gordon
While Gordon had interest in competing in the USAC championship early on, once he made his mark in NASCAR, he dedicated his time and energy exclusively to that arena to maximize his performance.
The Challenges of Switching Cars and Racing Formats
Another important factor Gordon mentioned was the difficulty he faced in quickly adapting to different cars and teams. Unlike drivers like Mark Martin and Kyle Larson, who can jump from one vehicle to another and remain competitive, Gordon needed time to master each car and build chemistry with his team.
“For me it like took time for me to learn the car, learn the team, communicate with them and that took time,” —Jeff Gordon
Gordon recalled making his first Rolex 24 attempt in 2007, an experience where he felt unable to give his full commitment due to the adaptation process. It was only after retiring from full-time NASCAR competition in 2017 that he successfully joined a winning team in his second Rolex 24 effort. This approach highlighted his need to focus deeply on one series or event at a time.
Respect for Larson’s Ability and the Stress Gordon Avoided
Because of his specialized focus, Gordon expressed tremendous respect for Kyle Larson and the skill required to regularly attempt challenges like the Double.
“He does it on such a regular basis that this doesn’t seem that abnormal for him where for me not doing it I think it would have been super stressful and I don’t know that I would have been as successful as he’s been. So to me it never really was,” —Jeff Gordon
Gordon shared that the only near opportunity he had to take part in such a challenge came during the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500, when race officials wanted to include drivers from various series. Even then, he did not pursue it seriously because it didn’t align with his approach or comfort level.
Jeff Gordon’s reflections shed light on how individual racing styles and mental preparedness influence decisions on whether to take on complex racing events. While Larson has embraced the demanding nature of the NASCAR Double, Gordon’s methodical focus on one discipline at a time allowed him to excel during his career without the added stress of multi-event attempts.
