Folks, there is a rare quality that only a few NASCAR drivers possess, none more than Tony Stewart. A former IndyCar champion turned NASCAR champion turned Chili Bowl Champion; now it seems like he might also be an NHRA champion, too. Tony’s currently running his second season in the Top Fuel Dragster. For a long time, it seemed like Stewart’s versatility would remain unmatched. Then came Kyle Larson, the same passion to race anything and everything. That’s why the 2025 Chili Bowl champion is about to attempt his second ‘double.’ However, he and his IndyCar coach have differences when it comes to versatility.

Last season, Larson became only the fifth NASCAR driver in history to attempt to run 1100 miles in a single day. First, the 500 miles of the Indianapolis 500 and then the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. However, last season, he failed to become the second driver to complete it after Stewart did in 2001. Larson finished the Indy 500 in P18. But rain cut short the Charlotte race, and Larson could not run even a single lap. However, he is determined to complete it and is making a second attempt in 2025. What’s surprising is that his coach for this attempt cannot fathom the very possibility of someone running the ‘double.’

Kyle Larson has his IndyCar coach jealous!

John Andretti was the first to run both races on the same day in 1994, and since then, it’s become a celebrated tradition. Look, the open-wheel cars from the IndyCar Series and the Next-Gen stock car from the Cup Series are two very different beasts. And Larson is someone who managed to tame them both. This is what makes him one of the best drivers there is. And Larson did not just run the open wheel; he kind of mastered it, qualifying in P5 last year for the race. He even led 4 laps until his car ran into some trouble mid-race, putting him in P18 by the end of it. Had that not been the case, we might have seen a top 5 finish from the rookie, who ended up claiming the Rookie of the Year honors as well.

And just to think of that is incredible. How can a driver with no former experience in an open-wheel car come and master it in such a short while? Well, that’s the difference between NASCAR drivers and IndyCar drivers. In NASCAR, drivers have more liberty to try different racing styles, and in turn, this hones their skills, making them better race car drivers overall. It’s how Kyle Larson runs midgets in the High Limit Racing Series along with a full Cup Series schedule. This is what Kyle Larson’s IndyCar coach and backup driver for his Indy 500 attempt, Tony Kanaan, spoke about.

The 2004 IndyCar champion coached Larson last year as well, and what surprises him is Larson’s versatility. Kanaan was recently on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s ‘Dale Jr Download’ podcast along with Kyle Larson, where he shared, “[Racing outside NASCAR] was a huge advantage for Kyle, like the stuff he say, “oh we got sideways and it was okay.” It was never okay in my book. And it was not because I was concerned about crashing a car. It’s just like, it’s different. You guys… drive more, you are conditioned to cars that slide more.” 

Kyle Larson is a sprint racing savant, a 3x Chili Bowl Nationals Champion, and the winner of the 24 Hours at Daytona with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015. His versatility knows no bounds. And after Larson came to train with Kanaan in IndyCar last season, the latter was surprised how quickly Larson picked things up. “I was really excited for his first day in Indy, and after he did his rookie test, in typical Kyle [fashion], he was like ‘Yeah, it’s okay, it’s not a big deal.’”

Besides his skills on the track, Kanaan was also jealous of how Larson got to race outside of NASCAR, a privilege that IndyCar drivers in his era did not have. “Growing up especially on the IndyCar side. We got told, we shouldn’t drive anything else. Because that’s what we needed to do. If things were gonna confuse you because it’s a different car. Different this, different that.” Well, NASCAR also doesn’t encourage racing outside of NASCAR, but if you make sure to attend every race, there’s no problem there. However, after Larson received a playoff waiver despite missing the Coca-Cola 600 last year, NASCAR tweaked its rules.

They ensured that if a driver doesn’t participate in a Cup Series event to prioritize a series outside NASCAR, they would lose all accumulated playoff points. So, despite his skills on the track, Larson will have to hope Mother Nature doesn’t intervene again. Larson showed the skills he acquired last year, but this season, Larson’s eyeing for more, and the preparation is in full swing.

Trending

1

Ex-NASCAR Champion & Motorsports Hall of Famer’s Death Leaves Racing World Mourning

2

NASCAR Rumor: Rick Hendrick Pulls Away Toyota Prospect As Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lets Slip Major Xfinity Update

3

NASCAR Fans Confused as Kyle Larson’s Insanity Forces Roger Penske to Bring the “Larson” Rule to IndyCar

4

Embarrassment for Joe Gibbs Racing as Early Leak Leaves NASCAR Fans Gutted

5

Kevin Harvick Opens His Door For NASCAR’s Next Female Driver Switching Up her Career After Nearly 10 Years

Is Kyle Larson ready for the Indy 500?

Folks, the double duty is not until May 26th, so there are still a couple of weekends until that happens. And before that, Larson is attempting a triple at Bristol next weekend. As he did at Homestead Miami recently, Larson will be running all three races (Truck, Xfinity, and Cup) at the short track. And since it’s Bristol, one of Larson’s favorite tracks, he is a front-runner to achieve the feat. However, meanwhile, Larson’s also been prepping for ‘the double.’

Speaking on this, he said, “I thought I was well prepared the first time around. So, I don’t think there was much I would do differently. I felt like I did a good job with my nutrition and my fitness and all that. I think, too … you mentioned it’s a lot of traveling back and forth. It’s actually not. It’s probably the least amount of travel that I have, probably throughout the summer, really.” And when the travel is racing-related, why would Larson mind?

However, some things have changed with the IndyCar car this season compared to last. And Larson has yet to figure them out. “Like, when you look at the wheel, it’s super complicating and all that, but once I realized like, once I got in the car last year, I’m like, ‘Oh, you’re really only worried about one dial, maybe, and couple buttons.’ But this year with the hybrid, I feel like you’ve got a little bit more maybe going on, you know, throughout a lapse, so we’ll see,” Larson added.

Anyway, Larson being Larson, he’ll figure it out quickly, and no one can guide him better than Tony Kanaan. Folks, how do you think Larson will fare this time in the double? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.