Kyle Larson: 'I don’t have any desire' to do Indy-Charlotte Double again

Kyle Larson is done with the Double. Speaking with the media on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta), Larson confirmed he does not have “any desire” to attempt the Indy-Charlotte Double again.

“I will have FOMO from running the Indy 500,” Larson said, via Dustin Long of NBC Sports. Hopefully, someday I can run that again, but I don’t have any desire to do the Double again. It didn’t go well the last two years.”

Larson attempted the Double in 2024, and again last month. Mother Nature thwarted last year’s attempt. This Memorial Day weekend, it was a combination of that and his own mistakes. The 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. ET start time, did not get underway until 1:35 due to rain.

Even that was a delayed start, as Scott McLaughlin crashed during the pace laps, ending his day before it truly began. Then, on Lap 1, Marco Andretti wrecked. If that was not enough, it started drizzling around Lap 20, bringing out the caution. Larson then crashed out on Lap 91, ending his race. He was credited with a 27th-place result.

Kyle Larson putting the Double behind him

Even if he had not crashed out of the race, Rick Hendrick would have had to pull him out of the car to get him to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the start of the Coca-Cola 600. If Larson did not arrive to Charlotte in time to start the race, he would have forfeited all of his playoff points for the entire season. That would have ended his chances of competing for a Cup Series Championship.

Larson started second in the Coca-Cola 600 and looked to have a strong car. Leading the race on Lap 42, Larson spun out on his own. He was involved in the Lap 245 caution, ending his race for good.

This was the last year of a two-year deal between Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren. Larson admitted after the Coca-Cola 600 that the Double is a “tough undertaking.”

“The Double is just a tough undertaking,” Larson said. “The window of time is too tight. Even if I didn’t wreck, I don’t think I would have made it here on time and probably would have had to end that race short anyways.

“So, I don’t really think it’s worth it. But I would love to run the Indy 500 again. Just doing the Double I think is just logistically too tough.”