Sac County native starts 19th in Sunday’s race, Nevada City’s Alexander Rossi seeks second race win from 12th
When the green flag drops at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday, all eyes in Sacramento County—and across the racing world—will be on Elk Grove native Kyle Larson as he attempts one of motorsports’ most grueling and celebrated feats: racing both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, known as “The Double.”
Larson, 32, returns to the Indy 500 for the second year in a row, driving the No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet co-owned by Rick Hendrick. He will start in the 19th position in this year’s race after benefiting from penalties handed down to other drivers following qualifying. Larson’s attempt to complete “The Double” marks just the 12th in racing history, and he hopes to become only the second driver ever—after Tony Stewart in 2001—to complete all 1,100 miles of both events in a single day.
It’s a homegrown story that has captivated fans in the Sacramento region and beyond. Larson’s journey began on local quarter midget tracks here in the region, including those in Prairie City and Rio Linda. He was then just 14 when he became the youngest driver to win a sprint car race at Placerville Speedway. From there, his rise through the racing ranks was meteoric, culminating in a NASCAR Cup Series championship and now a chance to make history across two of racing’s most iconic stages.
Larson made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 2024, starting fifth and finishing 18th, a performance that earned him Rookie of the Year honors. However, a four-hour weather delay in Indianapolis forced him to miss the start of the Coca-Cola 600 that evening. Though he flew to Charlotte, a rain-shortened NASCAR race meant he never got a chance to drive a single lap in the second half of The Double.This time, he’s hoping for smoother skies and a stronger performance.
“There’s so much history and prestige behind this race,” Larson said in a recent interview. “You can feel the energy on race morning. It’s different from any other event I get the chance to run.”
That energy comes with challenges. Larson endured two crashes in practice this year as he adjusted to IndyCar’s new hybrid system—an added technical layer to an already steep learning curve. The new setup provides about 60 horsepower of driver-controlled boost and adds nearly 100 pounds of weight to the car, changing its balance and feel. While Larson admitted he hasn’t fully mastered the system, he’s grown more comfortable in the car as the race nears.
“There’s just so much going on in the IndyCar compared to what I’m used to—fuel mappings, weight jackers, bar adjustments, and now the hybrid,” Larson explained. “But I feel like we’ve gotten enough practice, and I’m comfortable with how everything feels.”
Sunday’s schedule will be a whirlwind. After the 200-lap Indy 500, Larson will board a helicopter and private jet to Charlotte for the 600-mile NASCAR race that evening. Nutrition and stamina will be key—last year, he received IV hydration and a protein-packed meal between races.
“It’s definitely the biggest event I’ve ever competed in,” Larson said. “Hopefully we can make it special and perform well on track, and then do a good job in the NASCAR stuff, too.”
Larson’s 2025 campaign hasn’t come without adversity. He’s had to adapt to the new hybrid system, which has led to an unusually high number of crashes during practice and qualifying sessions—including two incidents of his own. But he insists the psychological effects of crashing don’t linger.
“You see me crash all the time,” Larson said Friday. “I don’t think it usually affects me.”
The hybrid power boost has become one of the most talked-about technical changes in this year’s IndyCar competition. Larson believes it’s been overhyped.
“The hybrid is, I feel like, hyped up as being this crazy new thing, but it’s really not a big deal either, I don’t think,” he said. “You just pull the paddle and go. When you want more charges, hit a button.”
Navigating the complex cockpit controls of the IndyCar has been a new challenge for Larson, who is more accustomed to the simpler layouts of stock cars and sprint cars. But he says he’s adjusted well heading into race day.
“This year I’ve gotten way more comfortable with doing those things,” he said. “There’s a lot more going on in the IndyCar, but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it.”
Larson’s 19th-place starting position puts him mid-pack, which presents additional strategy challenges in a race where track position is key. He’s learned from past mistakes, including a missed gear during a restart last year that cost him several positions.
“It was nice to have that mistake because then I was mid-pack, and I got to deal with those restarts and stack-ups,” he said. “There’s a lot I learned last year that I can hopefully use to get me toward the front.”
Despite the setbacks, Larson remains focused on executing a clean race. He credits his new PR team, led by Ashly Ennis, for picking up the slack after the sudden passing of his longtime media coordinator Jon Edwards in April. Edwards played a vital role in Larson’s logistics last year.
“Had he been here, it would have been more organized weeks ago,” Larson said. “But now that we’re here, it’s well-organized, and that’s a lot due to Ashly and everybody at Arrow McLaren.”
Larson has no current plans to return to the Indy 500 after this year, though he leaves the door open for future appearances once he’s no longer racing full-time in NASCAR. For now, his priority is finishing both races and possibly making history.
“First off, finishing all the laps would be amazing. That’s my first goal,” Larson said. “Then, I would love to surpass what Tony Stewart did: finish sixth at Indy and third at the Coke 600 in 2001. If you could win one of those, that would be great.”
The 2025 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. Eastern / 9:45 a.m. Pacific on Sunday, May 25. The Coca-Cola 600 is set to begin later that day in Charlotte at 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:00 p.m. Pacific.
If all goes to plan, Larson will spend his Sunday chasing history — not just at 220 mph in Indy, but also under the lights in Charlotte, all in a single unforgettable day.
Nevada City’s Rossi Starts 12th in Sunday’s Race
While Larson may be grabbing headlines with his Double attempt, another Northern California racing standout will also be chasing victory at the Brickyard this Sunday. Alexander Rossi, a native of Nevada City and winner of the 2016 Indianapolis 500, returns to the famed oval for his ninth start in the event and will roll off from the 12th position.
This season marks Rossi’s debut with Ed Carpenter Racing after two years with Arrow McLaren. He’s already shown strong form in 2025, racking up three top-10 finishes and leading 109 laps—his highest total since 2019. Rossi currently sits 11th in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings.
Rossi’s dramatic rookie win in 2016, when he stretched his final tank of fuel to the finish line, remains one of the race’s most iconic moments in recent memory. Nearly a decade later, he remains one of California’s most accomplished open-wheel racers and a consistent contender in the sport’s biggest event.
“Every year brings a new challenge here,” Rossi said during a recent media appearance. “But the goal is always the same—to put yourself in a position to win and execute.”
Rossi will battle a deep field that includes polesitter Robert Shwartzman, defending champion Josef Newgarden, and two-time winner Takuma Sato. The 2025 Indianapolis 500 begins at 12:45 p.m. ET (9:45 a.m. PT) and will be broadcast live on FOX.
Between Rossi and Larson, Northern California fans have two major reasons to cheer in Sunday’s race, as both look to bring more racing glory home to the Golden State.
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