IndyCar updates its rules for the Indy 500

Kyle Larson, champion NASCAR 2021, wishes this year, as in 2024, to participate on the same day in the Indy 500 in IndyCar and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in NASCAR. The Indianapolis 500 rules prevented Tony Kanaan from taking the wheel to replace Larson in case rain disrupted the start of the race in Indiana. This is exactly what happened, and after finishing eighteenth in Indianapolis, Kyle Larson was unable to drive in Charlotte, North Carolina, because the rain arrived before his helicopter, and the race had to be stopped permanently.

Although not explicitly named in the new regulations, Kyle Larson is the only driver who can benefit from these new provisions, described as follows:

– A replacement driver will only be considered if the driver scheduled to be in the car is competing in another major event in his or her usual championship on the day of the Indianapolis 500.

Tony Kanaan, winner of the event in 2013 and Team Principal of the Arrow team McLaren for which Larson will race, will be allowed to conduct a short practice session during the first day of free practice, on Tuesday, May 13. He will have to complete the "Refresher Program", consisting of thirty laps, divided into two phases of fifteen loops. He will have to complete the first fifteen laps at speeds between 210 and 215 mph (338 to 346 km/h) and then fifteen laps above 215 mph average. Once this course is completed, he will have to give way to Kyle Larson.

If it becomes clear in the days leading up to the race that the start will be postponed, Arrow McLaren may announce that Tony Kanaan will replace Kyle Larson, starting 33rd. If the weather improves before the start, Larson can take his place, but he will still start from last position. The only scenario where Kanaan will not be able to drive is if Kyle Larson starts and it rains during the race. A red flag would mean the end of the day for the No. 17 Dallara-Chevrolet if Larson has to leave for Charlotte.

The last time a driver was allowed to replace another driver during the race was in 2004. Robby Gordon was also doing double duty that day, but he had to give up his place in Indianapolis to Jaques Lazier during an early red flag, after already being two hours late. Six times in the history of the Indy 500, two drivers have driven the winning car. In 1924 and 1941, the race was won by two drivers, Lora L. Corum and Joe Boyer, and then Floyd Davis and Mauri Rose. In the other cases, the replacement driver completed too few laps to be considered the winner.

ALSO READ > IndyCar is expected to travel to Mexico as early as 2026