Kyle Larson likely won't start 'double' after Indy 500 delay - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — NASCAR star Kyle Larson planned to remain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and make his debut in a rain-delayed Indianapolis 500, rather than pulling out of the race early and flying to Charlotte for the Cup Series race there Sunday night.

Larson was attempting to become the fifth driver to do «The Double» by running the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. But that was thrown into doubt when a heavy storm hit the speedway. It lasted about an hour, and it was expected to take about two hours to dry the 2.5-mile track, putting an end to any hope Larson had of starting both races.

The last to do it was Kurt Busch in 2014, and the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles was Tony Stewart in 2001.

Larson said earlier in the day that the «priority» appeared to be staying in Indianapolis, but no decision had been made until the rain left the track. That's when a Hendrick Motorsports spokesman confirmed that Larson would remain at the speedway.

Justin Allgaier was on standby in Charlotte to run the No. 5 car in his place.

«It looks like it's going to be that window where I guess we might be able to get it dry to race today,» Larson said earlier in the day, «but obviously that affects things for the 600. It's still the weather. You don't know how that is going to go exactly. But the worst-case scenario is happening, which is a bummer. We'll get on the track in something today.»

Larson had hoped enough rain would force the Indy 500 to run Monday, allowing him to start both races.

Larson is starting fifth in the Indy 500 in the No. 17 car for Arrow McLaren in a joint venture with Hendrick Motorsports. That team's owner, Rick Hendrick, was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier Sunday in hopes of watching Larson