Kyle Larson Reveals the One Factor That Could Stop Him From Achieving Motorsports Immortality in Indianapolis
Kyle Larson, one of the most versatile and fearless drivers of his generation, has his eyes set on one of the greatest challenges in American motorsports: conquering the Indianapolis 500. But as the NASCAR Cup Series champion prepares to take on the iconic race, he’s admitted that there’s one crucial factor that could keep him from etching his name alongside the legends of IndyCar.
In a recent interview, Larson revealed that weather — not speed, not talent, not even experience — could be the biggest threat to his dream of achieving motorsports immortality in Indianapolis.
“If the weather doesn’t cooperate, I might not even get to run it,” Larson said bluntly. “That’s the biggest hurdle. We’ve got everything in place. The car, the team, the prep—it’s all there. But if Mother Nature decides to throw a wrench in it, there’s not much we can do.”
The reality is harsh: the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race, are both scheduled on the same day. Dubbed “The Double,” only a few elite drivers in history have ever attempted to run both races back-to-back, and even fewer have completed both due to unpredictable weather delays. For Larson, who is committed to running the full 600 miles in Charlotte after Indy, any delay in the 500 could make it impossible to pull off the feat.
Larson, who will compete in the Indy 500 with Arrow McLaren in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, has been training tirelessly to adapt to the demands of an IndyCar. He’s shown promise in testing and is eager to add the iconic Borg-Warner Trophy to his already impressive resume — a résumé that includes wins in NASCAR, dirt racing, sprint cars, and midgets.
“I’m not doing this for show. I want to win,” Larson said. “I know how rare this opportunity is. If we can get a clean day — no weather interruptions — I truly believe we’ve got a shot.”
His journey to Indianapolis has been closely followed by fans and fellow racers alike, with many believing Larson has the talent to compete at the highest level of any discipline. A win at the Indy 500 would elevate him into a rare class of drivers who have succeeded across multiple top-tier racing series — a modern-day A.J. Foyt or Tony Stewart.
But as Larson acknowledged, sometimes greatness is not just about preparation or performance — it’s about timing, and a bit of luck with the skies above.
“All I can do is control what I can,” he said. “The rest is up to the weather and fate.”
If the stars align, Kyle Larson could walk away from Indianapolis as a legend. If not, it may remain the one missing piece in an otherwise historic career.
