Kyle Larson earned the 10th spot in the Coca-Cola 600 after another long day of travel between Indiana and North Carolina.
Larson is aiming to accomplish the same feat as Tony Stewart by completing both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
The main concern isn’t Larson’s skill, but whether the weather will allow him to do so. Rain is expected in Indianapolis, which could delay his arrival in Charlotte.
He’ll start fifth at Indy in Arrow McLaren’s No. 17 car for a race starting around 12:45 p.m. Eastern, then swiftly head to Charlotte for a race at 6 p.m., starting in the 10th position.
Larson acknowledged the stress caused by unpredictable weather, stating, “But you just can’t really do anything or react until it’s kind of the moment.”
Last week, NASCAR adjusted the start time of the All-Star Race to accommodate Larson’s schedule after he spent the day qualifying at the Indianapolis 500.
He got to the track over an hour before the race began, arriving by helicopter while fans cheered.
It’s uncertain how much NASCAR would delay the start of one of its big events if the Indianapolis 500 goes longer than expected. Former President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
Joey Logano mentioned he’s fine with NASCAR postponing the start of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, as long as it’s reasonable.
“Delaying it a bit probably won’t cause much trouble,” said Logano, who won last week’s All-Star Race. “But delaying it significantly could have a big impact. Are we willing to sacrifice viewership for someone who chose to race in the Indy 500?”
Logano thinks it’s impressive that Larson is attempting the double, but he added, “I don’t think we should wait too long because of one person. I can’t just call and say, ‘I’m running late due to traffic. Can you wait for me?’ It doesn’t work like that.”
