In the long and storied 109-year history of the Indianapolis 500, only a select few drivers have dared to attempt “The Double” — competing in both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. This grueling challenge began with John Andretti in 1994 and was famously completed by Tony Stewart in 2001, who remains the only driver to finish all 1,100 miles in a single day. These rare attempts have captivated racing fans for decades.

Now, Kyle Larson, the versatile 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has revealed that his second attempt at this daunting feat will likely be his last — at least for the foreseeable future. Larson expressed that unless he wins the Indy 500, which would provide a perfect climax to this chapter of his career, he plans to step away from IndyCar racing.

The 32-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver is currently at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, participating in testing sessions ahead of next month’s race. Larson is preparing for what he views as the conclusion of his IndyCar endeavors. Although he has demonstrated exceptional talent across multiple racing disciplines — from dirt tracks to NASCAR’s premier series and now open-wheel racing — his recent remarks during testing suggest a shift in his racing priorities.

When asked about his plans to race in the Indy 500 again, Larson was candid about his uncertainty. “I don’t know. I haven’t really had like a sit-down discussion with anybody about that,” he said following testing on April 23. “So I don’t know. I can’t really fully answer that.” Despite this, Larson made his current mindset clear: “In my head, yeah, I’m going into this thinking it’s at least for the time being in the near future, the final Indy 500.”

This marks a significant change for a driver known for his willingness to race across various formats and disciplines. Larson’s rookie Indy 500 last year highlighted his natural ability — he earned Rookie of the Year honors after starting fifth and finishing 18th, despite a speeding penalty that hampered his race. The experience left a lasting impression on him. “It’s such a cool event,” Larson said. “I think once you run it enough, I think, and you don’t, you’d probably have a lot of FOMO and want to come back.” This reveals the strong allure the historic race holds for drivers who have competed in it.

While this year’s Indy 500 appears to be a temporary farewell for Larson, he hasn’t ruled out a future return under different circumstances. “I mentioned on Dale Junior’s download thing that, you know, maybe someday, when I’m not full-time Cup, and I can really devote all my mind to Indy, I’d like to do it again,” he explained. But he also shared a dream scenario: “If I happen to win the Indy 500, I probably just ride off into the sunset, too.”

Balancing the demanding NASCAR Cup Series schedule with IndyCar commitments is no easy task. Larson nearly jeopardized his playoff spot in the 2024 Cup Series while attempting to compete in both series. His Indy 500 run was a dream come true, but rain delayed the race by several hours. Larson chose to remain in Indianapolis as the Coca-Cola 600 started. However, by the time he arrived in Charlotte, rain again dashed his hopes, preventing him from running a single lap in the NASCAR race.

A playoff waiver saved his 2024 playoff chances, but that leniency will not be extended in 2025. NASCAR recently implemented what Kevin Harvick dubbed the “Kyle Larson rule,” which strips drivers of all playoff points earned during the regular season if they miss a race. This rule explicitly targets drivers who miss NASCAR events to compete in other series like IndyCar, aiming to prevent situations like Larson’s dual-series attempts.

Given this, it is unsurprising that Larson’s 2025 Indy 500 may be his last. His priority remains making it to Charlotte on time and helping Hendrick Motorsports reclaim NASCAR’s top spot after three years of Team Penske dominance.

The Indianapolis 500 has long attracted NASCAR’s most daring drivers. Kurt Busch, for example, finished sixth in his only Indy 500 start in 2014, proving that success in both racing styles is possible but extremely challenging. Larson understands the difficulty of juggling two very different types of racing, especially given the technical differences between stock cars and IndyCars.

In 2025, IndyCar’s introduction of a new hybrid power unit has added complexity to Larson’s challenge. “It feels a little different, handling-wise because of the Hybrid and the weight of that,” Larson noted during testing. “It was good to work on that today.” His comments about feeling “a little rusty on things — hitting buttons and getting the dash set up” highlight the complexity of switching between racing formats.

Beyond IndyCar, Larson has expressed interest in adding yet another motorsport discipline to his impressive resume. According to ESPN and Road & Track reporter Marshall Pruett, Larson has his eyes on the Repco Supercars Championship, specifically the event in Adelaide, Australia.

Kyle Larson’s racing bucket list includes: “I’d like to race a @supercars at Adelaide. I love it,” Pruett shared on social media.

The timing could be ideal, as the Adelaide event is the Supercars season finale, scheduled from November 26-30 — well into NASCAR’s off-season. This would allow Larson adequate time to prepare and adapt to yet another racing format. With experience spanning NASCAR stock cars, IndyCars, sprint cars, and midgets, adding the Australian touring car championship would further cement Larson’s reputation as one of motorsport’s most versatile and ambitious talents.

If you want, I can also help summarize or analyze the article further!