For the second consecutive 12 months, a bid by Kyle Larson to race the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day was adversely affected by climate.
A light-weight rain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway delayed the beginning of the 109th Indy 500 by practically 45 minutes, and when the race ultimately did begin at 1:29 p.m., the yellow flag was displayed for incidents on the parade laps.
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And after a uneven begin from a Lap 4 crash, the yellow flag flew once more on Lap 19 at 1:50 p.m. for rain.
The inexperienced flag had been scheduled to wave at 12:46 p.m. As a substitute, the 33 drivers, together with Larson within the No. 17 Dallara-Chevrolet of Arrow McLaren, had been ready of their automobiles with group members holding umbrellas over their cockpits. Indianapolis Motor Speedway proprietor Roger Penske lastly gave the command to start out engines at 1:21 p.m. (42 minutes late).
However the race was delayed even additional when Scott McLaughlin had a minor crash whereas making an attempt to heat his tires on the parade laps.
Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon additionally had an issue, and drivers had been left circling the two.5-mile observe for greater than 10 minutes behind the tempo automobile because the inexperienced and yellow flags lastly had been displayed collectively.
AUTO: MAY 17 INDYCAR 109th Working of The Indianapolis 500
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Jeff Gordon addresses Kyle Larson’s journey from the Indianapolis 500 to the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
Arrow McLaren group principal Tony Kanaan advised Fox Sports activities that Larson has a tough out of 4:07 p.m. to go away for Charlotte Motor Speedway, the place the inexperienced flag is scheduled for the Coke 600 at 6:27 p.m. ET.
If Larson had been unable to start out the race, Kanaan (who received the Indy 500 in 2013) would have been the substitute driver.
“We would like Kyle to do the 1,100 miles,” Kanaan stated. “If not, I assume I’m able to do it. We’re going to play it by ear, clearly.”
In Larson’s first Indy 500-Coke 600 try final 12 months, a four-hour rain delay precluded Larson from arriving at Charlotte Motor Speedway in time for the Coke 600, which was shortened by rain.
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Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon stated Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway
The chance of Larson having the ability to end the Indy 500 and attain Charlotte Motor Speedway in that timeframe took one other hit when the race instantly went yellow after a Lap 4 restart crash by Marco Andretti.
The Indy 500 typically takes a minimum of three hours to finish. Getting from IMS to Charlotte Motor Speedway (which is close to a regional airport) takes somewhat over an hour.
