There’s been a lot of talk about Kyle Larson this entire week, and it all boils down to Sunday’s historic attempt. The atmosphere surrounding Larson this weekend is anything but ordinary as he stands on the edge of motorsports history, aiming to be only the second driver in history to complete ‘Double Duty’ after Tony Stewart in 2001. However, his road to the double has been far from smooth, and it seems to be affecting his preparation for Charlotte.
Saturday, as always, was a very pivotal day, not just for the IndyCar logistics but also for Larson’s readiness behind the wheel of a stock car. After logging laps at Indianapolis throughout the week. Larson returned to Charlotte to qualify for Sunday. The track conditions, however, weren’t kind to anyone, let alone the driver adjusting between two different machines.
Kyle Larson admits to lacking confidence
Kyle Larson’s qualifying run at Charlotte on Saturday drew eyes across garages. While fans were eager for a headline-worthy result, Larson himself remained grounded. His mindset was less about pole positions and more about confidence—how much of it he had, and how much he could regain before Sunday night’s green flags dropped.
The 2021 Cup Series Champion revealed where he stood on this journey ahead of qualifying at Charlotte. When asked if he felt like he had a chance to win the Indy 500 despite his two practice crashes leading up to qualifying, where he managed a 19th place start, Larson was honest with his expectations: “Yeah, I think so, but you can’t even look at it. A lot goes into just posting a fast lap… Our car there feels pretty good… There’s definitely a couple of guys that are top tier, but I think we’re like the next group down.”
Kyle Larson‘s competition at the Indy 500 will be 2-time defending Indy 500 champ Josef Newgarden and the winner of 4/5 IndyCar races this season, Alex Palou. However, Newgarden will be starting from the rear after a penalty because of a rear attenuator modification, giving Larson a good shot at a strong finish. However, it’s his run at Charlotte that he’s more concerned about.
Practice at Charlotte had offered very minimal grip, and the #5 team had to wrestle with setup decisions under unpredictable skies. Not to mention the back-and-forth between two vastly different cars has challenged even the most well-documented adaptability of Larson. “I wasn’t expecting practice to be as sketchy and squirmy as it was,” Larson said of his Cup car at Charlotte. “It was just really hard for me to anticipate the grip and react to it.” While he considers himself pretty good at handling uncertainty, he has also confessed to a lack of confidence heading into qualifying. “I was telling Cliff I have zero confidence right now for how hard to enter the turn,” added Larson.
.@KyleLarsonRacin speaks to the #NASCARonPrime team ahead of taking on the double this weekend pic.twitter.com/NWynFbp2aG
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) May 24, 2025
But what definitely has set Larson apart from most of the athletes is not just his stamina but also his deeper awareness of what these moments mean, not just for him but also for his family. Larson shared with a tired smile, saying, “Caitlyn, she loves being a part of doing the double with me. It’s been fun having the family there. I’ve been so busy. I haven’t really seen the family a whole lot.” His constant travel from Indy back to wherever Charlotte has been grueling and caused him to be away from his wife Caitlyn and son Owen Larson, but a win in either event with his family in victory lane would certainly be a moment he’d cherish forever.
After expressing doubts ahead of his qualifying run, Larson said he would use the advantage of qualifying at the end because of his win at Kansas to his advantage, adding, “We get to watch everybody in front of us, and that will help me predict, hopefully.” Well, it seems like this did the trick, as Larson, with the qualifying time of 29.552 seconds, missed out on pole position to Chase Briscoe by just 0.02 seconds!
This strong front row start definitely helps him in an excellent spot for the second leg of his ambitious double attempt. While Larson is set to miss the pre-race festivities, including the driver introductions, which would originally lead to a start from the rear, he has been given a waiver for the same, emphasizing NASCAR‘s understanding of what Larson is aiming to achieve.
As always, the calmness in Larson’s voice masks the storm of calculations running behind the visor. His ever-fluid mind moves from Indy to Charlotte and back again, each corner presenting a new test for him. But what does the team have to say about Kyle Larson’s big day?
Jeff Gordon trusts the plan
So, as Larson has tempered expectations in his own words, his mentor had a much firmer stance. Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports and four-time Cup champion, has told NBC Sports that he is not only confident in Larson’s sensibility but also relieved at how well logistics are falling into place.
Gordon admits, “Everything’s looking really good. He’s going to be at Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 well ahead of the start.”
The veteran has immense confidence in Kyle Larson and expresses Hendrick Motorsports‘ support if Larson were to go hard for the win at Indianapolis. Gordon added, “It’d be just fine if Kyle Larson wants to win the Indy 500, and I’m probably speaking on behalf of Rick Hendrick. That would be awesome, so we could say we did it, and it’s been amazing.”
He also notes the extensive effort involved and goes on to say, “It’s a lot. It takes a huge commitment. We’re proud to be a part of it.” Gordon has emphasized the logistical challenges and the meticulous planning undertaken by both Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren. He mentioned that the initiative was significantly driven by HendrickCars.com and Rick Hendrick’s enthusiasm.
Regarding Larson’s schedule, Gordon has assured that there was a concrete plan to have them in Charlotte in time for the Coke 600. Larson is expected to be at Charlotte Motor Speedway by 5:30 pm ET. Well ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 schedule, 6 pm start. While the logistics remain tight, especially with weather potentially impacting the Indy 500 start, the team is confident that they can pull it off.
Gordon suggests that this might be a one-time experience, as the combined physical toll, weather predictability, and the shared effort required by two race teams, sponsors, and travel logistics make it difficult to imagine a repeat. However, all eyes will be on Kyle Larson tomorrow. It is now or never for the star of the weekend. Do you think Kyle Larson will create history on Sunday? Let us know in the comments!
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