Kyle Larson to try Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 again in 2025

Kyle Larson has confirmed that he will attempt the double challenge of running both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 25, 2025. After weather issues disrupted his attempt in 2024, Larson is now looking to complete both races in one day. The announcement was made during a press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he was joined by Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Zak Brown, and Tony Kanaan.

Preparation for the double challenge

Larson will once again compete with the No. 17 HendrickCars.com car, in collaboration with Arrow McLaren, as part of a team alongside Pato O'Ward, Nolan Siegel, and Christian Lundgaard. Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 champion, will coach Larson once again. Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, highlighted that the experience gained in 2024 will allow the entire team to be better prepared in 2025, improving coordination and execution in both races.

"We learned a lot last year," Hendrick said. "Although the weather caused issues, we saw the positive impact for our sponsors and realized Larson's potential in both disciplines. We're ready to come back better prepared."

Lessons learned in 2024

In his Indianapolis 500 debut, Larson showed great performance, earning Rookie of the Year honors after setting a rookie record lap of 233.43 mph during qualifying. Though he qualified fifth, a speeding penalty in the pits dropped him to 18th place. As for the Coca-Cola 600, weather conditions prevented him from completing a single lap, leaving Larson with a sense of "unfinished business."

The driver commented: "It stings not being able to do the double as I had hoped. The team and I are determined to try again, and with last year's experience, I think we have a real chance to be competitive in both races."

Optimism for 2025

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, also expressed his enthusiasm for the new opportunity: "Kyle showed what he's capable of in his first attempt. With better weather conditions and a more experienced team, we are confident that he can compete for victories both in Indianapolis and Charlotte."

Larson, for his part, expressed confidence in his chances, acknowledging the difficulty of winning both races in one day, but firmly believing that the team is capable of achieving it.

"If I didn’t think we could win both races, I wouldn’t do it," Larson said. "With Arrow McLaren in the Indy 500 and Hendrick Motorsports in the Coca-Cola 600, I'm confident that we can compete at the highest level."

Despite the setbacks faced in 2024, Larson made it clear that his desire to compete in major events like the Indianapolis 500 remains strong, regardless of the results in 2025. Larson even mentioned that, had he been able to complete both races in 2024, he would have still considered attempting it again in 2025.

"I love racing, especially in such important events like these. Even if things go well this year, I will always want to come back and try to win the Indy 500 at some point," Larson said.