Rick Hendrick explains 'tough' decision for Kyle Larson to have to pick Indy 500 or Coca-Cola 600 due to weather threat

This Sunday, Kyle Larson will attempt to become just the fifth driver to complete the Indy-Charlotte Double.

The key word there being attempt, as the current forecast calls for a 70% chance of rain in Indianapolis, which could very well delay the 108th Running of the Indy 500. Such an occurrence could impact Larson’s timeline at getting to Charlotte Motor Speedway in time for the start of the Coca-Cola 600.

Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick said Tuesday it would be “very tough” to have to pull Larson out of the Indy 500 in order to make it to Charlotte on time.

Rick Hendrick said it would be "extremely hard" to pull Kyle Larson out of the Indy 500 if there is weather in order to get him to the Coke 600 on time. He explains who will make the decision and then talks about the difficulty if they have to make a decision. pic.twitter.com/DXgdhKI0Qw

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 21, 2024

“That’s a tough question because we’ve talked it many times and we know we need to be in Charlotte for the points,” Hendrick said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “We’re just gonna let it play out. It would be very hard; it would be very tough. It would be very disappointing because of all the effort that everyone has put in. … We’ve got a tremendous amount of folks there at Indy, and he’s in such a good position, it would be extremely hard.”

Arrow McLaren has contingency plan if Kyle Larson can’t race

Green flag for the Indy 500 will wave at approximately 12:45 p.m. ET, while the Coca-Cola 600 begins at 6 p.m. Larson qualified fifth for the 500, which is to be his IndyCar Series debut.

IndyCar confirmed to Dustin Long of NBC Sports that if Larson starts the Indy 500, he cannot have a relief driver and that car will be done for the race. If Larson leaves Indianapolis before the start of the 500, his team, Arrow McLaren, is eligible to have another driver in the car. 2013 Indy 500 winner and the team’s sporting director Tony Kanaan is one of the backup options in case Larson can’t race, per James Black of RACER.

Donald Trump planning to attend Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, could this jeopardize Kyle Larson’s double?

Further complicating matters is that former President Donald Trump is “making plans” to attend the Coca-Cola 600, according to Charlotte Motor Speedway general manager Greg Walter. As a former sitting president, it’s very possible that an airspace restriction could exist while Trump is on the move.

“No person may operate an aircraft over or in the vicinity of any area to be visited or traveled by the President, the Vice President, or other public figures contrary to the restrictions established by the FAA and published in a NOTAM,” the Federal Aviation Administration’s website reads.

Hendrick admitted that Sunday will be a day of “tremendous stress.”

“Knowing who’s driving the car and [with] Arrow McLaren behind it, I hope we can finish, and I hope the race finishes,” Hendrick said. “I think we’ll have a good day. … From 11 Sunday morning until 11:30 Sunday night, it’s going to be tremendous stress.”