Larry McReynolds Proclaims “Kyle Larson Wasn’t 100%” for Coke 600 After Indy 500 Wreck

NASCAR pundit Larry McReynolds blamed the Indy 500 for Kyle Larson's disappointing performance in the Coca Cola 600.

Larry McReynolds Proclaims “Kyle Larson Wasn’t 100%” for Coke 600 After Indy 500 Wreck

Larry McReynolds (via Larrymcreynolds.com) and Kyle Larson (via Imagn Images)

Kyle Larson was having a busy outing on Memorial Day. The NASCAR star was making his second attempt at ‘Double Duty’ with the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600. However, the HMS star had a disastrous day with incidents during both races. Now, NASCAR pundit Larry McReynolds has highlighted the reason for Larson’s disappointing pace in his second race of that day.

Larson was racing with Arrow McLaren at the Indy 500. The 32-year-old hoped to win the ‘greatest spectacle of racing’ before heading to Charlotte for the Coke 600. Unfortunately, Kyle Larson crashed out of the race in Indianapolis on Lap 91 and was ultimately classified as 27th. Just a few hours later, the HMS star was cranking up the engine at the Coke 600. At Charlotte, he hit the wall while leading the race in Stage 1, before spinning out by himself on Lap 42.

Larry McReynolds was confident that this tight schedule only made things worse for Kyle Larson. He insisted that Larson could simply not perform at his 100% as he remains a human after all. The 32-year-old had spent weeks in training for the Memorial Day weekend. But this was just not enough in what had been an exhausting day for the NASCAR star.

There’s no way he was 100-percent when he got back to Charlotte… He’s human. He may be a freak of nature, but he’s human. … He’s a human being and no matter how well prepared, there is no way when he cranked that engine in the Coke 600, that he was 100-percent. It’s just not possible.

Larry McReynolds said on Door Bumper Clear podcast.

Even if Kyle Larson had managed to stay out of trouble during the Indy 500, he would’ve had problems. The 500 still had about 50 laps to go around 4 p.m. ET. If Larson would’ve continued, he might’ve been forced to park the car and head to Charlotte to make it in time for the Coca Cola 600.

Kyle Larson uncommitted to another Indy 500 attempt

The entire affair has been exhausting for Kyle Larson. The 32-year-old failed to match his own expectations and ruined both his races. NASCAR legend Tony Stewart is the only driver in history to have completed the entire 1100 miles of racing during Double Duty, way back in 2001. Since then, no driver has ever been successful at replicating this mammoth Memorial Day task.

Kyle Larson (via McLaren)
Kyle Larson (via McLaren)

Kyle Larson admitted that he doesn’t know if he will try to complete this feat again. The HMS star is still recovering from a chaotic performance and understands the intensity of this challenge. Larson highlighted that even the time window to travel from Indianapolis to Charlotte was too tight, making it even more difficult to consider.

I don’t know It’s so fresh right now I don’t really have a good answer for you. The Double is just a tough undertaking. The window of time is too tight. Even if I didn’t wreck, I don’t think I would have made it here on time and probably would have had to end that race short anyways.

Kyle Larson said, as quoted by NBC Sports.

It is likely that Larson will take some time before deciding if he wants another attempt at the Indy 500. The HMS star recognizes the attempt also has an impact on his NASCAR season with the Coke 600. Thus, Larson might be more inclined towards abandoning his attempt to win the 500, at least for the time being. Considering his competitive spirit, the 32-year-old won’t be able to resist the greatest spectacle of racing for long.

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