Fansided

Is anyone attempting the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double in 2017?

By Nick Tylwalk

May 15, 2017; Speedway, IN, USA; A general view of the pagoda decorated with signage during practice for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2017; Speedway, IN, USA; A general view of the pagoda decorated with signage during practice for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Several drivers have attempted to do the most impressive feat in U.S. racing by driving in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, but is anyone attempting the double this year?

Driving in the longest IndyCar race of the year or the longest NASCAR race of the season is grueling enough. Attempting the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day is borderline superhuman.

It’s possible simply because of scheduling. Both races are historically run on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, with the Indianapolis 500 starting just after noon and the Coca-Cola 600 beginning shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time. The flight time between the two cities is less than two hours, so with a little more logistical help (namely, helicopter rides to and from the airports), it’s doable.

Still, driving open wheel IndyCar vehicles and NASCAR stock cars are two very different disciplines, plus a driver needs to have willing teams in both series to be able to pull off “Double Duty” successfully. To date, it’s been done only 10 times by five different drivers:

  • 1994 – John Andretti
  • 1995 – Davy Jones
  • 1997 – Robby Gordon
  • 1999 – Tony Stewart
  • 2000 – Robby Gordon
  • 2001 – Tony Stewart
  • 2002 – Robby Gordon
  • 2003 – Robby Gordon
  • 2004 – Robby Gordon
  • 2014 – Kurt Busch

Perhaps unsurprisingly, no driver pulling off the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double has ever won either race. Tony Stewart was by far the most successful, finishing in the top 10 in both races during both of his doubles.

Next: 5 drivers to watch in the 2017 Indy 500

But no one is attempting Double Duty in 2017. Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne both at least discussed the idea last year and current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson has been asked about it as well. Busch seems the most logical candidate, though, as he finished sixth in the Indy 500 in 2014 and thus would seem the most attractive active NASCAR driver for giving it a shot.

Unless, of course, Jimmie Johnson decided to take a crack at it …

There’s still a little cross-series intrigue in the 2017 Indy 500, however, since Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is in the field. You can watch him attempt to defeat the IndyCar regulars beginning at noon Eastern on ABC.

Home/Indy 500