Latest news with #MemorialDayDouble
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Alex Palou wins the 2025 Indy 500: Watch him take the checkered flag
Alex Palou wins the 2025 Indy 500: Watch him take the checkered flag Show Caption Hide Caption Kyle Larson to race Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Kyle Larson talks hydration, preparation, and the physical toll of racing the "Memorial Day Double" A rain delay hit the Indianapolis 500 this year and that set the stage for a dramatic day of racing. Multiple caution periods punctuated the 200-lap race in Speedway, Indiana. After 500 miles of racing, Alex Palou took the checkered flag and made history as the first Spanish driver to win the Indy 500. The Spaniard won his first Indy 500 after taking the lead with 15 laps to go and holding off 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson on the final lap. This continues what's been a dominant season for the two-time defending champion. Palou has won five of the first six races of the season and finished no lower than second in any IndyCar event in 2025. There was drama even before going green. Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin crashed into the wall during pace laps while trying to warm up his tires. Once the field was good to go racing, Andretti Global Honda's Marco Andretti collided with Dale Coyne's Jack Harvey. Andretti went into the wall and was out. Robert Schwartzman started on pole and became the first rookie to do so since 1983. The Prema Racing driver didn't see the checkered flag, though, as he lost control in the pits and hit the wall and some of his crew members on Lap 88. He wasn't the only driver to see drama in the pits. Ed Carpenter Racing's Alexander Rossi led some of the race before his car caught fire during refueling on Lap 75. Two-time defending Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden methodically worked his way up the field from the last row on the grid and was running in the top 10 before a fuel issue ended the Team Penske driver's day on Lap 140. That ensured someone else besides Newgarden won the Indy 500 for the first time since 2022. This time, Palou was a new winner crowned in Indianapolis. Indy 500 full classification
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Kyle Larson's attempt at 'The Double' ends with Indy 500 crash
Kyle Larson's attempt at 'The Double' ends with Indy 500 crash Show Caption Hide Caption Kyle Larson to race Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Kyle Larson talks hydration, preparation, and the physical toll of racing the "Memorial Day Double" Heartbreak for Kyle Larson for a second straight year. One year after a rain delay kept Larson from completing the "The Double" – finishing both the IndyCar Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina on the same day – Larson's second attempt has failed after he crashed out of the Indy 500. Larson was less than halfway into his first race of the day when he spun out entering a turn. His Arrow McLaren crashed into two other drivers – Sting Ray Robb and Kyffin Simpson – before slamming into the wall rear-first on Lap 92. The resulting damage caused all three drivers to withdraw from the race early. "We were just bunched up on the restart and I was really close to Takuma (Sato) in front of me," he said. "Got kind of aero tight behind him, and as I peeked left ... I spun. "Hate that I caused that crash, hate that others got collected in it, and really just hate it for Arrow McLaren and (NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports owner) Rick Hendrick – everybody that put a lot into making this effort possible. Just bummed out, really." A few minutes after the crash, Fox cameras caught Larson's helicopter making its way to Charlotte, where the driver will still compete in the Coca-Cola 600. The NASCAR race is scheduled to begin in the North Carolina state capital at 6 p.m. ET. Larson is the betting favorite to win.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Kyle Larson was 'too eager' on Indy 500 restart that led to him crashing out
Kyle Larson was 'too eager' on Indy 500 restart that led to him crashing out Kyle Larson is done in the #Indy500 after hitting the wall at IMS. — INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025 Barring any travel issues, Kyle Larson will get to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, but things still didn't turn out the way the NASCAR driver would have hoped. In his second attempt at the Indy 500 — and second try at the Memorial Day Double with IndyCar's biggest race, followed by NASCAR's longest race — Larson didn't make it to the halfway point of the 200-lap, 500-mile event. On Lap 91 off a restart, Larson lost control of his No. 17 Arrow McLaren/Hendrick Chevrolet and crashed, clipping Kyffin Simpson's car and Sting Ray Robb, who missed the wreck, checked up but still hit the wall and tire barrier. Larson — who needed to leave Indianapolis by about 4 p.m. ET to make it to NASCAR in Charlotte — will now have plenty of time to arrive at the Coca-Cola 600. For at least another year, Tony Stewart will remain the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles of the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Earlier this week, however, Larson said he was open to attempting the Double again. After crashing, Larson spoke to Fox Sports and shared his perspective on what happened. Kyle Larson explains what happened after crashing out of the #Indy500 on FOX. — INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025 "It was a bit crazy there on the start," Larson told Fox Sports. "I got tight behind Takuma [Sato]. I was really close to him, and I think as I finally got maybe shaded left but I haven't seen a replay. I got loose and just kind of all over the place. So I spun. ... "Got a little too eager there on the restart caused that crash. Hate it for everybody that also got caught up in it. Just bummed out, so try to get over this quickly and get onto Charlotte."
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Is Donald Trump attending 2025 Indy 500? President has been a fixture at big events
Is Donald Trump attending 2025 Indy 500? President has been a fixture at big events Show Caption Hide Caption Kyle Larson to race Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 Kyle Larson talks hydration, preparation, and the physical toll of racing the "Memorial Day Double" President Donald Trump knows a thing or two about staying in the conversation. From the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff games to the Daytona 500 and everything in between, the president is no stranger to big sporting events. So when the "greatest day in motorsports" is on the calendar, it begs the question, will Trump be in attendance? Options are aplenty on this Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. There's the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1, the Coca-Cola 600 in NASCAR and, of course, the Indy 500 in IndyCar. After attending the Coca-Cola 600 in 2024 and the Daytona 500 in 2025, it became a question whether the president would make the trek to Indianapolis to check out the "greatest spectacle in racing" at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 109th Indianapolis 500. Will Trump be in attendance at Indy this year? Here is your answer. Is Donald Trump going to 2025 Indy 500? Trump will not be at the Indianapolis 500 in 2025. The president was invited by IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske during a visit to the White House on April 9. While there is always a possibility of a surprise visit or last-minute change when it comes to Trump, the president appears ready to skip the event this year. News of Trump opting to not attend the event was first reported by Politico's Adam Wren. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, the speedway was of the same understanding of the decision. Has POTUS ever attended Indy 500? No sitting President of the United States has ever attended the Indianapolis 500. Several former presidents, however, attended the legendary race after their time in the White House. Gerald Ford was the first former president to attend when he was at the track in 1979. In 2003, former President George H.W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton both attended on race day. On the other hand, presidents have been at race day prior to their election. Harry Truman attended the Indy 500 in the late 1930s before he was elected, and Trump actually attended the 2002 edition of the race. In 2011, Trump was named the pace car driver for the 100th Indy 500, but it came during controversial statements he made regarding then-President Barack Obama's citizenship and his possible run in the 2012 election. After backlash of Trump's selection for the centennial edition of the race, Trump backed out of his position and was replaced by four-time Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Kyle Larson's ridiculous Memorial Day Double schedule might be tougher than the races
Kyle Larson's ridiculous Memorial Day Double schedule might be tougher than the races For the second time in as many years, Kyle Larson will attempt to join Tony Stewart as the only drivers to ever complete the full 1,100 mile Memorial Day Double. On Sunday afternoon, Larson will drive the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 for Arrow McLean. Immediately after he crosses the finish line, Larson will take a helicopter to the Indianapolis airport, board a private plane to Charlotte and scoot over to NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 for an evening race. Rain delays in Indiana and North Carolina scuttled Larson's attempt last year. Fortunately, the forecast looks nearly perfect this time around. Double 2.0: Kyle Larson reveals approach for rare second Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 Double attempt But trying to pull off the Double doesn't just mean figuring out travel logistics for the day of the races. It means balancing two highly-competitive race schedules for two very different types of cars. All May long, Larson has been bouncing back and forth between IndyCar and NASCAR with one of the more outrageous schedules you'll see in motorsports. Kyle Larson's May schedule Via NASCAR. All times ET. Sunday, May 11 – 3 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway Monday, May 12 – 7:30 p.m.: High Limits Racing sprint car event at Kokomo, Indiana Tuesday, May 13 – 12:15 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 ROP & Refreshers– 2:15 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 practice Wednesday, May 14 – Noon: Indianapolis 500 practice Thursday, May 15 – Noon: Indianapolis 500 practice Friday, May 16 – Noon: Indianapolis 500 practice– 4:30 p.m.: NASCAR All-Star Race pit road qualifying practice – 5 p.m.: NASCAR All-Star Race practice – 6:15 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 qualification draw– 7 p.m.: NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying Saturday, May 17 – 11 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 qualifying-5:10 p.m.: All-Star heat races (Hendrick Motorsports announced the No. 5 team will skip Saturday's All-Star heat races) Sunday, May 18 – 1 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 practice (Top 12)– 2 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 (Last chance qualifiers)– 4:05 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 qualifying – 5:15 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 last chance qualifying– 6:25 p.m.: Indianapolis 500, Firestone Fast Six– 8 p.m.: NASCAR All-Star Race Monday, May 19 – 1 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 practice Tuesday, May 20 – Media Tour in New York City Friday, May 23 (Carb Day) – 11 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 practice– 2:30 p.m.: Indianapolis 500 pit stop challenge Saturday, May 24 – 10:30 a.m.: Indianapolis 500 public drivers meeting– 1:30 p.m.: Coca-Cola 600 practice – 2:40 p.m.: Coca-Cola 600 qualifying Sunday, May 25 – 12:45 p.m.: Indianapolis 500– 6 p.m.: Coca-Cola 600 No matter what happens on Sunday, Kyle Larson deserves a very long, relaxing nap after this weekend.
