For the second consecutive year, NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is aiming to complete the “double,” driving for Arrow McLaren in the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day, before flying to Charlotte later in the evening to drive in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. Last year, Larson qualified fifth for the 108th Indianapolis 500 and finished 18th, but a weather delay in Indianapolis caused him to miss the Coca-Cola 600.
While Larson is aiming to complete the “double” this year — which some have taken to calling the “Hendrick 1100” — if weather causes another delay in Indianapolis, Larson is going to head to Charlotte, leaving Arrow McLaren to turn to a Plan B.
And what a Plan B it would be.
If Larson is forced to miss the race after qualifying for the grid, Arrow McLaren’s Team Principal will slide into his seat. None other than 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, and 2004 IndyCar Champion, Tony Kanaan.
To prepare Kanaan for a potential return to the grid, the former champion slid into the car on Thursday for a veteran “refresher” test, completing 15 laps between 210 and 215 miles per hour, followed by 15 more laps over 215 mph.
After the session, Kanaan described the test as “awesome.”
“Awesome, as usual,” said Kanaan in a press conference on Thursday. I came down pit lane after my warm-up lap. Did an installation lap. I never really took it for granted, this place, driving an IndyCar,
After two years, I’m like, ‘I had the coolest job in the world for 26 years. Just going to have to control myself for 30 laps.’
“It was awesome,” continued Kanaan. “I’m pretty lucky. This place never let me down. Today, even special little things. I mean, Kyle Sagan, who has been my mechanic for years. He was in my 2013 car. He was the one that buckled me up most of my career. He’s with the team now.
“He was not supposed to be there this morning because his is on the other car. He came in to buckle me in. Special moments like that. Even though just a few laps, I got to enjoy [the session].”
The only way Kanaan will take Larson’s place in the Indianapolis 500 is if a weather delay forces the NASCAR Cup Series driver to head to Charlotte. This year, NASCAR changed the rules regarding “playoff waivers,” which would allow a driver who missed a race a waiver into the playoffs, provided they qualified. Waivers will still be available for drivers who missed a race to get into the playoffs, however, they will be required to forfeit any playoff points accumulated before that point in the season, and they will not acquire any future playoff points.
This rule change means that the Coca-Cola 600 will be Larson’s priority, and if weather causes a delay in Indianapolis, he’ll have to head to Charlotte.
Which could see Kanaan back on the grid for the Indianapolis 500.
Still, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner is preparing as if he’ll be along the pit wall, and not on the grid, when the 500 starts on Memorial Day.
“I mean, I’m doing the team commitments that I have to do as the team principal until they need me on Saturday night. I think I kept myself in shape. I think I can wake up, switch, and go. I’ll probably be dead after the race. It will take me 15 days to recover because I’m old,” joked Kanaan.
“No, I’ll fulfill our commitments. The sponsors and partners coming to this race, it’s a special moment for them. I’m the team principal. I won’t think about the race until (Sunday) morning. If it’s raining, I’ll drink a little more water and go.”
