Kyle Larson to return to the Indy 500 in 2025

The announcement was expected, the one nicknamed "Yung Money" having initially signed a contract for two attempts with Arrow McLaren. However, since his participation in the Indy 500 in May, the American driver had remained evasive about a possible second attempt. Indeed, this first attempt had certainly ended with an 18th place at the finish, but the 4 hours of delay due to the weather prevented Larson from competing as he had planned in the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double, the longest race of the season. NASCARHe will again attempt to participate in both races on the same day, a feat last achieved by Kurt Busch in 2014.

This time, Rick Hendrick, Larson's boss in NASCAR, made it clear that the Charlotte race, held in the evening, would take precedence over the Indy 500 if the weather were to interfere again. The American had in fact decided to stay in Indianapolis, and once he arrived in North Carolina, he was unable to get into his car to replace Justin Allgaier, since the same downpour that had hit Indy in the afternoon had arrived over Charlotte. Larson had therefore had to ask NASCAR's permission to still qualify for the playoffs, given that he had not participated in all the rounds of the regular season, which had caused some controversy.

Kanaan ready to replace Larson if necessary

“I really enjoyed racing last May at Indy with Arrow McLaren, but I was very disappointed to miss the Coca-Cola 600. I appreciate this second opportunity because we have a job to do. I really want to go the 1100 miles and I think we have the opportunity to challenge for victory in both events.”, Kyle Larson explained during a press conference held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

To answer a question that arose last May during the 500 Miles, Tony Kanaan, 2013 winner of the event and Arrow McLaren's racing director, will do a test session in October or April, in order to be authorized to drive in place of Larson. However, he will only be able to take the wheel if Larson cannot participate in the event at all due to a weather delay. Indeed, the current regulations of theIndyCar prohibits the use of replacement drivers in races. In 2004, Robby Gordon started the Indy 500 before giving way to Jaques Lazier during a rain red flag, as he had to travel to Charlotte to compete in the Coca-Cola 600.

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