The Double: After 2024 failure, Kyle Larson hopes to finally join exclusive group

Attempting to complete 1,100 miles in a single day of racing is quite the challenge (unless you’re an endurance racing driver), but it’s even more daunting when you’re doing it in two wildly different race cars and at two race tracks that are multiple states apart.

That is what it means when a driver like Kyle Larson says they are attempting ‘The Double.’ They start their day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy 500 around 12:45pm EST, and then end their day around 11pm EST at Charlotte Motor Speedway when NASCAR’s longest race — the Coca-Cola 600 — reaches its conclusion.

Only four drivers have run both races on the same and only one — three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart — has actually managed to complete all 1,100 miles.

Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

Larson tried to join this group in 2024, but Mother Nature had other plans. Rain delayed the start of the Indy 500 and that same storm ended up following Larson to North Carolina, ending the Coke 600 before he could take over from Justin Allgaier mid-race.

Larson will have a second chance on Sunday, starting 19th in the Indy 500. Should he complete the Double, he will join John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Kurt Busch, and Stewart as the only drivers to have run both races on the same day. And if you’re wondering how that went for them, then you have come to the right place.

John Andretti — The very first driver to accomplish ‘The Double’

John Andretti (Photo from early 2000s, not during 1994 ‘Double’ attempt)

Photo by: Richard Sloop

Before Andretti, several NASCAR drivers ventured to Indianapolis and simply chose to skip the Charlotte race. Some other ‘Double’ hopefuls failed to qualify or Mother Nature ruined their plans, too. So, it wasn’t until 1994 when a driver finally managed to run both races on the same day, giving John the honor of being the very first.

He was a full-time NASCAR driver at the time, but he did have open-wheel experience and finished a solid tenth in the Indy 500. He made it to Charlotte just in time for the start, but was forced to begin the race from the rear of the field. He crashed early in the 600, but soldiered on until the car finally gave up after 220 of 400 laps.

Robby Gordon — The driver with more attempts than anyone else

Robby Gordon

Robby made five runs at the Indy-Charlotte Double, which is more than any other driver. His first attempt came in 1997, but inclement weather pushed the Indy 500 to Monday and Tuesday. He tried again in 2000, but missed the start of the 600 due to weather. P.J. Jones started the event and got credit for the result, but Gordon did take over in the middle of the race.

His first successful attempt came in 2002, finishing eighth in the Indy 500 and 16th in the Coke 600. He finished one lap down at Charlotte, coming 1.5 miles shy of completing the full 1,100 miles of racing. He successfully ran the Double again in 2003, even though rain ended the 600 early. His final attempt came in 2004, but weather interfered once again. He had to leave mid-race in order to make the start of the 600. Jaques Lazier finished the 500 for Gordon, but since he started the race, he was credited with the result.

Tony Stewart — The only driver to complete every lap in both events

Tony Stewart

Photo by: indyracing.com photo by Ron McQueeney

The most successful ‘Double’ attempt belongs to Stewart. He ran both events in 1999 and 2001. In his first attempt, Stewart finished ninth in the Indy 500 and fourth in the Coke 600. He was four laps down in the 500, which prevented him from completing all 1,100 miles.

2001 was the final time ‘Smoke’ ran the Indy 500, again aiming to finally complete all 1,100 miles between Indianapolis and Charlotte. Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing at Indianapolis, he finished sixth and then went on to finish third with Joe Gibbs Racing at Charlotte. It remains the best showing by any driver who has run these iconic races on the same day. In doing so, Stewart is the only driver to complete all 600 laps and 1,100 miles of competition.

Kurt Busch — The last driver to successfully run both races on the same day

Kurt Busch arrives in Charlotte

Photo by: Walter G. Arce, Sr. KBI/ActionSportsInc.com

The Double hasn’t been successfully done since 2014 with Kurt Busch came over from NASCAR. After a crash in practice, the newly announced NASCAR Hall of Famer rebounded in a big way. He finished sixth in the Indy 500, earning Rookie of the Year honors. Unfortunately, the 600 did not go as well as a massive engine failure forced him out of the race after 271 of 400 laps.

Since then, several drivers have expressed interest in attempting the Double, including Kurt’s brother Kyle, who came close to securing rides in both the 2017 and 2024 Indy 500s. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson ran the 2022 Indy 500 but he did not attempt the 2022 Coke 600.