It was Memorial Day Weekend, 2001, when Tony Stewart cemented his legacy in racing lore. The NASCAR icon pulled off one of the most demanding feats in motorsports, completing all 1,100 miles of the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. He finished sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte. That feat wasn’t just a physical challenge; it was a mental war. The brutal hours, changing cars, and switching between two totally different styles of racing in one day demanded more than skill; it demanded obsession.

“Having completed all 1,100 miles of Double Duty is something I’m really proud of… When you’re done with the 600… you’re very, very content to lay your head on a pillow,” Stewart once said. And even after lying down, he confessed, “It still feels like it’s not stopped moving yet.” Fast forward to 2025, and Stewart had his eyes on a man he believed could finally rival his effort, Kyle Larson. For the second year in a row, Larson was set to attempt the “Double,” now dubbed the “Hendrick 1100.” Stewart not only supported Larson, but he also endorsed him.

“I think Kyle’s got the feat of all 1,100 miles. Kyle should be able to do that, no problem. That’s not as hard as it used to be back in the day,” he stated in a podcast appearance. With such huge support and weeks of practice, NASCAR fans and Kyle Larson hoped to make it count this time. But once again, lady luck didn’t agree with this ambitious undertaking, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver once again saw his dream being ravelled at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On Lap 92 of the Indy 500, Larson’s dream to outrun Tony Stewart came to a sudden, painful end.

The Brickyard bites back at Kyle Larson!

Kyle Larson’s 2025 “Double” attempt ended in heartbreak. On a restart during Lap 92 of the Indianapolis 500, Larson lost control coming out of Turn 2. His No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet spun out and slammed into the outside wall. Two other cars were caught up in the crash. The crowd went silent. Larson, who started the day with sky-high hopes, was out. The crash forced him to settle for 28th place, far from the finish he needed to chase down Stewart’s legacy. Moreover, he failed to complete or even come close to the 1100-mile record.

Soon after the incident, Larson was taken to the care center. He was released quickly, physically okay, but mentally crushed. He admitted to FOX Sports, “I got loose and … kinda all over the place. Just hate it for everybody that got caught up in it. Just bummed out.” It wasn’t just about the wreck, it was about what it symbolized. After a rain-ruined attempt in 2024, this year was supposed to be the redemption. Instead, the Brickyard showed no mercy.

Notably, Larson had already suffered through last year’s bitter result. After a strong showing at Indy, he was penalized on pit road, and he finished 18. That delay, plus weather setbacks, meant he missed starting the Coca-Cola 600 entirely. The 2024 attempt never even made it off the ground in Charlotte. By the time he reached Charlotte, NASCAR had called off the race, and he was forced to get a waiver. This year was supposed to erase that memory. But again, Indy dealt the final blow.

Now with this, Tony Stewart remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles of Double Duty. That 2001 run stands untouched. And this crash comes days after Stewart’s warning. He had told Larson that completing the double wasn’t as hard now as it was back then, but he needs to be careful in the Indy 500. “I think Kyle’s got the feat of all 1,100 miles… You get him to Charlotte, that’s like, he can do that blindfolded and one hand tied behind his back. He has a shot to win that, no doubt. Indy’s the variable of the equation. if he doesn’t make any mistakes at Indy… he’s in a good position. But any one mistake—if it’s a pit deal, if somebody screws up and leaves a wheel loose… those are the things that can take you out,” he had said.

What makes it even more cruel is that Stewart knew the Brickyard doesn’t forgive. Even before this year’s race, he reminded people how rain nearly ended his own attempt in 2001. He was leading when the red flag came. He knew he’d have to leave no matter what. Luckily, the rain cleared. But Stewart admitted, “If I was leading by five laps, I don’t know if I could’ve made myself leave.” He never had to make that call. Larson never got the chance to.

Now, Larson heads to Charlotte. The crash at Indy may have derailed the double, but it cleared the way for a full Coca-Cola 600. He’ll start that race from the front row behind Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing. Earlier, with a new waiver rule, NASCAR officials had made it clear, 600 is the priority. And after the Indy 500 disappointment, Larson will want redemption on the oval he knows best. That race could still be a victory. But the dream of 1,100 miles is gone.

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Jeff Gordon praises Larson’s legacy!

While Kyle Larson failed to deliver in the Indy 500, everyone had hopes for him. Hendrick Motorsports official Jeff Gordon was also all high for him before the race. Gordon, a four-time Cup Series champion and NASCAR legend, never attempted the Double himself. His reason? He knew his limits. “There aren’t many Kyle Larsons. I was always the type of driver where I was very laser-focused on one team, one car, one kind of goal, and it’s just the way that my mindset, my efforts were,” he said in a recent interview.

Notably, Gordon didn’t bounce from car to car or jump between series. He chose a path and stayed on it. However, Larson is the opposite. Dirt cars, Sprint cars, open-wheel, NASCAR, he races everything. And he wins. Gordon admires that. “I admire the heck out of Kyle for what he is capable of doing, and he does it on such a regular basis, this doesn’t seem that abnormal. For me, not doing it would’ve been super stressful, and I don’t know if I would’ve been successful as he has been. To only time it became a reality was the 100th anniversary, even then I didn’t put a whole lot of consideration,” he further added.

Although Gordon dominated open-wheel circuits early in his career, his move to stock cars defined his legacy. But watching Larson, he sees a driver who blends both worlds. Larson’s run might have ended at the Brickyard, but he has earned a lot of praise and support from the NASCAR garage. From Jeff Gordon to Tony Stewart and even counterparts like Kyle Busch have often supported him. For now, the Hendrick Motorsports driver needs to forget Indy horror and have a shot in the Coca-Cola 600.