CONCORD, N.C. -- Kyle Larson's first attempt at completing The Double was disrupted by weather, so how will he and Hendrick Motorsports approach 2025 and another opportunity to run the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day?
"This time, I think we understood doing it again the 600 was going to be the priority," Larson said Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "But I'm done talking about that.
"We are going to run both races next year. The weather's gonna be great."
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick made it clear early in Tuesday's press conference at the Concord track that Larson will indeed focus on starting NASCAR's longest race.
Last season, heavy rainfall forced the team to decide whether to stay for the delayed Indy 500 and miss the start of the Coca-Cola 600 or skip the biggest race in IndyCar and return to Charlotte so Larson could get in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
The team decided to stay for the Indy 500 as Larson ultimately missed the Coca-Cola 600 due to rain and humidity in North Carolina.
This will not be the case in 2025.
"We will be here for the 600," Hendrick said. "If that means having to cut the race short in Indy, we will because my commitment to NASCAR is that we're in NASCAR, and that's where we run for the championship."
The "running for the championship" factor is key considering the after-effects of this season's failed attempt at The Double.
To compete for a championship, a driver must attempt to start every race on the schedule. If they are unable to for whatever reason, their team must request a waiver from NASCAR to keep them playoff-eligible.
HMS requested this waiver after Larson missed the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR did not grant this waiver until June 4, nine days after the crown jewel race.
Putting the Coca-Cola 600 as the priority will erase any potential waiver-related issues. Although it could lead to a difficult decision.
If Larson is leading the Indy 500 with an opportunity to potentially win, will HMS pull him out of the car?
"I think I owe it to my NASCAR team as well to get here in time to try and win one of the biggest races of the season and the race that has the most implication to the season as well," Larson said after Mr. Hendrick tried to get NASCAR President Steve Phelps to weigh in.
"So, yeah, I mean, right now I'm okay with it."