Remember Christopher Bell’s 2024 dream of running the Indianapolis 500? At the NASCAR awards event in downtown Charlotte last year, he said, “Yeah, for sure. If Toyota was interested in that, I would be raising my hand to do it. They haven’t been (just) a huge part of my career, they have been my career.” Now, nearly 10 months later, and a stellar 2025 campaign that saw him bag 4 wins, it seems like the No. 20 driver has put that goal on the back burner.

Let’s give you some context. Toyota and Indianapolis have a history. Back in 2003, Toyota stormed into the Indianapolis 500 with their sleek, high-tech 3.5 L V8s built by Toyota Racing Development. Powering legends like Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing, Toyota didn’t just compete; they won, with Gil de Ferran taking the checkered flag. That very year, the Japanese manufacturer made history by grabbing the IRL Engine Manufacturer’s Championship, proving they could go toe-to-toe with the best. But like all great thrillers, the story took a twist.

By 2005, Penske and Ganassi switched to Honda engines, and Toyota quietly pulled back, shifting its firepower to NASCAR. And as Toyota never looked back, Christopher Bell has taken back his excitement to run the Indy 500 as something more important lies ahead of him. Speaking on Corey LaJoie’s Stacking Pennies podcast, he said, “Well, I mean, I don’t think I have interest in running the Indy 500, and I had it before he did it. Uh, you know, for sure. But, you know, at this point in my career, like I’m definitely not willing to do anything to take away from that weekend in the Cup on the Cup side. And you know, I think it would be unfair for me to, you know, entertain the idea while I’m at this point in my career.”

With four wins, including a dramatic victory in the Round of 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the No. 20 driver has demonstrated his capability to thrive under pressure. He displayed consistent performance throughout the season with 10 top fives, 16 top tens, and 1 pole through 29 races, while leading 239 laps. As the playoffs progress, Christopher Bell’s momentum, combined with the strength of Joe Gibbs Racing backed by Toyota, suggests that he is well-equipped to challenge for the title. However, the Indy 500 dream, which has now taken a back seat, can come up again in a few years, according to the 30-year-old.

Christopher Bell admitted, “You know, maybe years down the road, if it gets to the point to where I am a multi-time Cup champion and um, you know, a Coke 600 title is like, okay, well, I can sacrifice a little bit here to go do it. But I’m not there right now. And I want to make sure that, you know, I focus on my day job and hopefully, one day I’ll get to run the Indy 500, but it’s not in the near future.”

It is clear that Bell has his eyes set on NASCAR first, but his performance at Charlotte last year, claiming the Coke 600 win, and his hope to be a multi-time Cup champion have definitely been noted. Could this potentially lead to a Double Duty for Bell, or is that a stretch? Only time will tell if he aims to follow in his rival, Kyle Larson‘s, footsteps. It is impossible not to mention Kyle Laron’s name in the same breath as the Double Duty. Attempting the Double twice is no easy feat, and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver knows it all too well.

This year, racing both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day ended in disappointment. At the Indy 500, he crashed out on lap 91, finishing 24th after a spin in turn 2. Later that evening, Larson was involved in a multi-car incident on lap 246 of the Coca-Cola 600, resulting in a 37th-place finish and his second consecutive year of failing to complete both races. Most would want to believe that things don’t look too bad for him on the Cup side. However, even though he punched his ticket into the playoffs this year, his championship hopes are under fire. 

The Indy 500 hasn’t seen Toyotas roar since 2005, but the whispers never stopped. Talks about a potential 2027 engine formula comeback and the dream of seeing Toyota back at Indy runs alive, crackling with the same kind of tension and excitement that makes the Brickyard one of motorsport’s ultimate stages. But on the other hand, it is explicit that Bell’s focus lies on the Cup Series for now.

Christopher Bell turns Bristol win into playoff firepower heading into Loudon

Christopher Bell left Bristol with a grin and a rocket under him. That late-race pass earns him the first playoff elimination, lighting a fire under Joe Gibbs Racing heading to New Hampshire for the Mobil 1 301. Loudon has been Bell’s playground: two of the last three Cup races won, a 2017 Truck Series win, and a recent Xfinity victory all show he knows how to get it done there. Heading into this weekend, he is the defending winner in all three national series at the track, and everyone knows it.

Bell has his eyes set on something bigger as the Cup Garage heads to New Hampshire, and he admits, “I think we’re every bit as capable as any of the other 12 out there. It’s a good racetrack for us as a group, and we know what it takes to be good there, and it seems like our cars are really good. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead. It’s just that all the Toyotas are super-fast right now. But we’ve got a long way to go to get to Phoenix, and it’s going to be a hard road, and everybody knows that.” 

Momentum is on Christopher Bell’s side, and with Joe Gibbs Racing firing on all cylinders, the Mobil 1 301 is shaping up to be a proving ground. Every lap at New Hampshire could either cement his playoff run or remind everyone just how brutal the Round of 12 can be. The real question is, can Christopher Bell survive this?