Potential Kyle Larson replacement confirmed for 2025

As a seasoned motorsports enthusiast with over three decades of racing under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia at the news that Kyle Larson is set to make another attempt at the Memorial Day Double in 2025. The last time we saw such an endeavor was back in 2014 when his former teammate, Kurt Busch, pulled it off. It’s a challenge that only the brave and the bold dare to undertake, and Kyle Larson certainly fits both descriptions.

The Arrow McLaren IndyCar team and the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team have announced they will extend their partnership until 2025, with Kyle Larson preparing for a second try at the Indy 500 race scheduled at Indianapolis Motor Speedway over Memorial Day Weekend in May.

Last May, Larson made an effort to join the elite group of four drivers who had achieved the Memorial Day Double by participating in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, his attempt was thwarted when the Indy 500 was postponed due to rain. Instead of rushing to make it to the NASCAR race on time, Larson chose to remain and compete in the IndyCar event at Indianapolis, which had been delayed by the weather.

Following a mid-pack qualification in the fifth position on the second row, the driver of the No. 17 McLaren-Hendrick Chevrolet managed to maintain a spot within the top ten contenders. However, a speeding violation on the pit road towards the end of the race resulted in him falling down the ranks, forcing him to accept 18th place as his final position.

That decision made him late for the Coca-Cola 600, which was halted due to rain itself by the time he had arrived.

As a gamer, I was all set for the thrilling conclusion of the Coca-Cola 600, but unfortunately, due to a sufficient portion of the race being completed for official classification, the event was cut short before reaching its full distance. Sadly, Larson missed out on the chance to compete, making him the first driver in nearly three decades who managed just one of two starts during a Memorial Day Double challenge.

By 2025, Larson hopes to achieve the status of being the fifth racer to make an official attempt at the Memorial Day Double, following his previous teammate, Kurt Busch, who successfully accomplished this feat back in 2014.

Back in 2001, I was the one who tackled and conquered the entire 1,100-mile challenge in a single day. I’m talking about me, the gamer here – yes, that’s right, I managed to pull off what only Tony Stewart has achieved!

However, there is a caveat to next year’s attempt (or at least that’s what Rick Hendrick has said to appease NASCAR).

Following Larson’s absence from the Coca-Cola 600 this year, speculation arose about whether he might still be granted a waiver to maintain his eligibility for the playoffs, despite having already claimed several victories in regular season races that ensured him a place.

After an unduly prolonged delay, the waiver was finally approved, yet NASCAR confronted the harsh truth that changes were necessary in their system as they progress.

There’s an ongoing debate about granting Larson a waiver, as the Indy 500 is unrivaled and deserves top priority being the largest single-day sports event globally. However, there’s apprehension that such a move might encourage other drivers to participate in races that could potentially clash with Cup Series events in future schedules.

Hendrick clarified that for Larson, the Coca-Cola 600 takes precedence over any other races, including Indianapolis in 2025. This is because if it rains and causes another postponement of the race at Charlotte, he won’t participate. This statement was made following this year’s Cup Series regular season championship, where Larson missed out on the title by a single point, a point he would have clinched just by participating in the event at Charlotte.

Hendrick suggested that, under certain circumstances, Larson might be removed from his car ahead if there seemed to be a delay suggesting he wouldn’t arrive at Charlotte in time. However, this method is open to significant doubt.

Who would replace Kyle Larson?

2013 Indy 500 champion Tony Kanaan, who is currently the sports director at Arrow McLaren, was believed to be making his 22nd and last start in the Indy 500 race in 2023. Since this was his fourth Indy 500 since he announced his “Last Lap” tour, some humorously speculated that Kanaan might hop back into a racing car again in 2024.

As much as I’d love to jump into the No. 17 Chevrolet in May, it wasn’t meant to be. Despite the buzz about me potentially stepping up if Larson needed a relief, I couldn’t take the wheel because I hadn’t completed the veteran refresher test yet, making me ineligible for the role.

Of course, that aspect was inconsequential. Instead, Larson chose to persevere and participate in the competition. In this scenario, only the newcomer, Nolan Siegel from Dale Coyne Racing who didn’t make it past qualifiers, would have had the chance to step in if I were in that position.

For Larson, the focus lies on the Coca-Cola 600 in 2025. Meanwhile, Kanaan is preparing to undergo a veteran refresher test, which he can take either in October or during the yearly open test at the Speedway Indiana oval in April. This four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) track will serve as the venue for his evaluation.

Thus, as Kanaan approaches his 50th birthday later in the year, he has been officially confirmed as Larson’s reserve driver for the 2025 Indianapolis 500 race.

It’s important to keep in mind that if Larson is removed from his vehicle during the race, Kanaan will not be permitted to take over for him. IndyCar has shown no signs of altering this rule. Each car can only be driven by a single driver throughout the entire race; the driver who initiates the race must also be the one who completes it.

On Sunday, May 25, 2025, the Indy 500 is set to occur for its 109th time. Will Larson participate in this legendary racing event for the second time, or will Kanaan pull off an incredible comeback, fulfilling a speculation that was once considered unlikely and even joked about?

2024-09-12 15:02