Trying to finish 1,100 miles in a single day of racing is kind of the problem (except you are an endurance racing driver), but it surely’s much more daunting once you’re doing it in two wildly completely different race automobiles and at two race tracks which might 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.
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Simply FIVE drivers have ever managed to run each races on the identical and just one — three-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion Tony Stewart — truly accomplished all 1,100 miles.
The historical past surrounding Katherine Legge’s attemptKatherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet
Legge’s try got here collectively very late, and he or she has by no means truly competed in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 earlier than. In latest makes an attempt, it was usually skilled NASCAR drivers venturing over to Indy for the primary time, however this 12 months, it is a veteran open-wheeler going the opposite route. She is going to drive the No. 11 HMD Motorsports/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet on the Indy 500, and the No. 78 Stay Quick Motorsports Chevrolet at Charlotte.
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Legge is the primary girl to ever try this, in addition to being the primary non-American driver to take action. On the age of 45, the British racing driver can also be the oldest to aim the Double, beating the earlier file by a full decade.
Now, finishing each lap might be fairly the problem for her, particularly with the NASCAR gear. Nonetheless, she did full each lap with the identical automobile in final 12 months’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 method into the present through 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 prior to now. 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.
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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 in the end accomplished on Tuesday.
In 1995, Davy Jones took half the Indy 500, however he truly 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)
John Andretti (Photograph from early 2000s, not throughout 1994 ‘Double’ try)
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 consideration of being the very first.
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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 pressured 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 motive force with extra makes an attempt than anybody else
Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robby made 5 runs on the Indy-Charlotte Double, which is way over every other driver. As we mentioned, 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 resulting from climate. Gordon did take over from PJ Jones in the course of the race, so credit score to Gordon for not giving up.
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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 complete 1,100 miles of racing. He efficiently ran the Double once more in 2003, regardless that rain ended the 600 early. His remaining try got here in 2004, however climate interfered as soon as once more. He needed to depart mid-race with a purpose 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 outcome.
Tony Stewart — The one driver to finish each lapTony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Probably 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.
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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 at Indianapolis, he completed sixth after which went on to complete third with Joe Gibbs Racing at Charlotte. It stays the most effective displaying 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 problem derails a outstanding dayKurt Busch arrives in Charlotte
Kurt Busch arrives in Charlotte
After a crash throughout Indy 500 follow, the previous Cup Sequence champion rebounded in a giant method on race day. He completed a really spectacular sixth within the Indy 500 regardless of by no means operating any IndyCar race prior to now (which separates him from Gordon and Stewart), incomes Rookie of the 12 months honors within the course of.
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Sadly, the 600 didn’t go in addition to a large engine failure pressured him out of the race after 271 of 400 laps. He was operating 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 racesDaniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
As we mentioned, Larson tried to hitch 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.
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Larson began nineteenth within the 2025 version of the Indy 500 as he made his second try. On Lap 91, he downshifted coming into Flip 2 and the automobile snapped round, slamming the wall and ending his race. Later within the day, issues have been going higher at Charlotte as he led 34 of the primary 43 laps, earlier than in the end spinning from the race lead. He continued on, solely to have his race led to a Lap 247 crash on the frontstretch after colliding with a spinning Daniel Suarez.
Lately, a number of different drivers have expressed curiosity in trying the Double, Seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion ran the 2022 Indy 500 however he didn’t try the 2022 Coke 600. Many thought Danica Patrick would in the future go for it along 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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