Kyle Petty was as dismayed as the rest of the NASCAR world regarding Kyle Larson’s attempt at running both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.
The Hendrick Motorsports star had hoped to pull the double on Sunday, but Mother Nature had other plans. Rain forced the Indianapolis 500 to start late, but Larson chose to stay and finish the IndyCar race, before jetting over to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, where he was slated to replace Justin Allgaier during the race.
However, just as Larson arrived in Charlotte, the rain began to come down, and with the Coca-Cola 600 already being past halfway, NASCAR decided to call the race for Christopher Bell. That meant Larson missed running any laps in Charlotte, and Petty shared his disappointment in the development on Monday.
“Speaking of great finishes, Kyle Larson, what a letdown. After all the hype, after everything that was built up — Indy, the 600, the double, the one guy who can do it all, Mother Nature intervenes,” Petty stated. “Indy starts late. He stays up there, runs in the top ten all day long. Has a speeding penalty, is relegated to an 18th place finish. Comes to Charlotte just in time to get in the car when the rain comes. So what a letdown for all the hype we saw. Still, Kyle Larson is the man.”
At the least, Larson earned the respect of his peers for attempting the double, and he can always try again in 2025. Of course, it’s a ton of work and preparation, but the way things worked out in 2024, he may be motivated to give it another shot.
Regardless, nobody was more disappointed than Larson himself, who penned a heartfelt letter to his fans on social media earlier on Monday morning.
“What I thought could be one of the best days of my life quickly turned into one of the most disappointing ones I’ve ever experienced. I hate it for Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, HAG, Hendrick Motorsports, everyone a part of the 5 team, everyone on the 17 IndyCar for speeding, my family, my friends, my fans, and the documentary crew that has followed along the journey the past 8 months. So much time, money, and effort went into this experience and it just kills me to have it all end the way it did. I feel like I let so many people down. We knew all along weather could throw a wrench into things but seeing it come to reality is a horrible feeling,” Larson wrote. “Up until Sunday it was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. I can’t describe how appreciative I am of everyone’s support of me to live out a dream. I hope it’s not the last opportunity I have to try the Double but if it is I guess it was memorable.
“Thank you to everyone at Arrow McLaren, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and all the competitors there for making me feel welcomed. Ready to get back on track now and get refocused on winning a 2nd championship for our team.”
Mother Nature had other plans for Kyle Larson, but he’s still proven he’s one of motorsport’s greatest talents, and the sky will continue to be the limit for him moving forward.
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