Making an attempt to finish 1,100 miles in a single day of racing is kind of the problem (until you are an endurance racing driver), but it surely’s much more daunting while you’re doing it in two wildly completely different race vehicles and at two race tracks which can be a number of states and over 500 miles aside.
That’s what it means when a driver says they’re trying ‘The Double.’ Their day will start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 round 12:45pm EST, and finish round 11pm EST at Charlotte Motor Speedway when NASCAR’s longest race — the Coca-Cola 600 — reaches its conclusion.
Solely FIVE have ever managed to run each races on the identical and just one — three-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Tony Stewart — really accomplished all 1,100 miles.
The historical past surrounding Katherine Legge’s try
Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Geoff Miller / Lumen by way of Getty Pictures
Legge’s try got here collectively very late, and he or she has by no means really competed in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 earlier than. In latest makes an attempt, it was usually skilled NASCAR drivers venturing to Indy for the primary time, however this time, it is a veteran open-wheeler going the opposite route. She’s going to drive the No. 11 HMD Motorsports/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet on the Indy 500, and the No. 78 Dwell Quick Motorsports Chevrolet at Charlotte.
Legge is the primary lady to ever try this, in addition to being the primary non-American driver to take action. On the age of 45, British racing driver can be the oldest to try the Double, beating the earlier document by a full decade.
Now, finishing each lap might be fairly the problem for her, particularly with the NASCAR tools. Nonetheless, she did full each lap with the identical automobile in final yr’s Brickyard 400, ending seventeenth. Together with making her debut within the 600, subsequent Sunday will mark Legge’s fifth look within the Indy 500. The large query mark surrounds simply what number of entries might be heading to Charlotte for the 600, and if she must struggle her means into the present by way of qualifying.
The failed or partial makes an attempt
This would not be such a outstanding achievement if there wasn’t additionally a number of failed makes an attempt. Kyle Larson missed the beginning of the Coke 600 in 2024, and by the point he arrived, the identical rain storm that had delayed the beginning of he Indy 500 had ended the NASCAR race. Justin Allgaier drove his automobile at Charlotte.
In 2004, Robby Gordon began the Indy 500, however needed to depart after 29 laps when climate halted the race. Jaques Lazier continued in Gordon’s automobile at Indy whereas he went on to run the 600. Climate additionally impacted Gordon’s 2000 try, and whereas he completed the Indy 500, he did not make it to Charlotte in time. He nonetheless completed the race, however P.J. Jones had began it, and so, Gordon was not credited with collaborating (formally). Gordon’s 1997 try was additionally derailed by climate, with the Indy 500 postponed to Monday and finally accomplished on Tuesday.
In 1995, Davy Jones took half the Indy 500, however he really didn’t qualify for the Coke 600, driving the No. 77 Jasper Motorsports entry.
John Andretti — The very first driver to perform ‘The Double’
John Andretti (Photograph from early 2000s, not throughout 1994 ‘Double’ try)
Photograph by: Richard Sloop
Earlier than Andretti, a number of NASCAR drivers ventured to Indianapolis and easily selected to skip the Charlotte race. Another ‘Double’ hopefuls didn’t qualify or Mom Nature ruined their plans, too. So, it wasn’t till 1994 when a driver lastly managed to run each races on the identical day, giving John the honour of being the very first.
He was a full-time NASCAR driver on the time, however he did have open-wheel expertise and completed a strong tenth within the Indy 500. He made it to Charlotte simply in time for the beginning, however was compelled to start the race from the rear of the sphere. He crashed early within the 600, however soldiered on till the automobile lastly gave up after 220 of 400 laps.
Robby Gordon — The driving force with extra makes an attempt than anybody else
Robby Gordon
Robby made 5 runs on the Indy-Charlotte Double, which is excess of every other driver. As we stated, his first try got here in 1997, however inclement climate pushed the Indy 500 to Monday and Tuesday. He tried once more in 2000, however missed the beginning of the 600 on account of climate. Gordon did take over from PJ Jones in the midst of the race, so credit score to Gordon for not giving up.
His first profitable try got here in 2002, ending eighth within the Indy 500 and sixteenth within the Coke 600. He completed one lap down at Charlotte, coming simply 1.5 miles shy of finishing the total 1,100 miles of racing. He efficiently ran the Double once more in 2003, though rain ended the 600 early. His ultimate try got here in 2004, however climate interfered as soon as once more. He needed to depart mid-race to be able to make the beginning of the 600. Jaques Lazier completed the five hundred for Gordon, however since he began the race, he was credited with the consequence.
Tony Stewart — The one driver to finish each lap
Tony Stewart
Photograph by: indyracing.com photograph by Ron McQueeney
Essentially the most profitable ‘Double’ try belongs to Stewart. He ran each occasions in 1999 and 2001. In his first try, Stewart completed ninth within the Indy 500 and fourth within the Coke 600. He was 4 laps down within the 500, which prevented him from finishing all 1,100 miles.
2001 was the ultimate time ‘Smoke’ ran the Indy 500, once more aiming to lastly full all 1,100 miles between Indianapolis and Charlotte. Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing at Indianapolis, he completed sixth after which went on to complete third with Joe Gibbs Racing at Charlotte. It stays the very best exhibiting by any driver who has run these iconic races on the identical day. In doing so, Stewart is the one driver to finish all 600 laps and 1,100 miles of competitors.
Kurt Busch — A mechanical concern derails a outstanding day
Kurt Busch arrives in Charlotte
Photograph by: Walter G. Arce, Sr. KBI/ActionSportsInc.com
After a crash throughout Indy 500 follow, the previous Cup Sequence champion rebounded in a giant means on race day. He completed a really spectacular sixth within the Indy 500, incomes Rookie of the Yr honors.
Sadly, the 600 didn’t go in addition to a large engine failure compelled him out of the race after 271 of 400 laps. He was working within the mid-teens and only one lap down, so he had an actual shot at finishing all 1,100 miles earlier than mechanical gremlins.
Kyle Larson — Working (and crashing) out of each races
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Pictures
As we stated, Larson tried to affix this group in 2024, however Mom Nature had different plans. Rain delayed the beginning of the Indy 500 and that very same storm ended up following Larson to North Carolina, ending the Coke 600 earlier than he might take over from Justin Allgaier mid-race.
Larson began nineteenth within the 2025 version of the race as he made his second try. On a Lap 91 at Indy, he downshifted coming into Flip 2 and the automobile snapped round. Later within the day, issues had been going higher at Charlotte as he led 34 of the primary 43 laps, earlier than finally spinning from the race lead. He continued on, solely to have his race led to a Lap 247 crash on the frontstretch after a spinning Daniel Suarez hit him.
In recent times, a number of different drivers have expressed curiosity in trying the Double, together with Kurt’s brother Kyle, who got here near securing rides in each the 2017 and 2024 Indy 500s. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Jimmie Johnson ran the 2022 Indy 500 however he didn’t try the 2022 Coke 600. Many thought Danica Patrick would someday go for it together with her years in each NASCAR and IndyCar, however that by no means got here to fruition both. AJ Allmendinger is one other driver with loads of expertise in each sequence, however he hasn’t tried the Double both.
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