CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Make no mistake: Kyle Larson needs to run the Indianapolis 500 once more subsequent 12 months.

The deal he and Hendrick Motorsports signed with Arrow McLaren Racing was at all times a two-year deal, however 2025 was an choice 12 months that Larson mentioned Wednesday continues to be being ironed out.

If he had his method, a call could be made sooner slightly than later.

“I’d like to. We’re nonetheless engaged on it,” Larson mentioned. “It is progressing. So I like that, however clearly issues can at all times change.”

Larson was a star at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Might, the place he certified fifth however a late-race rushing penalty took him out of competition and he completed 18th. Plus, there was an hours-long rain delay in Indianapolis and the Hendrick camp, after pouring hundreds of thousands of {dollars} into the trouble, determined to go away him on the 500 and take care of the Coca-Cola 600 in Harmony, North Carolina, later.

As quickly because the Indy 500 ended, Larson jetted off to North Carolina — the place he was met by extra rain. He ran to his automotive simply because the race was paused for climate, and since it by no means resumed, he by no means bought the possibility to run the 600.

That created a commotion in NASCAR, with many members of senior management taking the place that Larson and Hendrick had prioritized the Indianapolis 500 over the 600 and subsequently wasn’t owed an automated waiver to take part within the playoffs.

The state of affairs dragged on for properly over every week because the pissed off Hendrick camp was incensed the state of affairs was being hyper-scrutinized when different drivers have obtained waivers for non-racing incidents. For instance, Matt Kenseth missed half the 2018 season, the entire 2019 season and the primary 4 races of 2020, however was granted a playoff waiver when he was employed as a substitute driver for the suspended Larson.

Kurt Busch obtained a waiver when he was suspended whereas below investigation for a home assault allegation, and Tony Stewart obtained a waiver after taking a psychological well being break.

NASCAR finally gave Larson the waiver — and he opens the playoffs Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway because the factors chief — however it’s unlikely Rick Hendrick will log off on one other Indy 500 run and not using a assure from NASCAR.

Both method, it is the possibility to finish the 1,100-miles of racing in in the future that the majority pursuits Larson. John Andretti, Stewart, Busch and Robby Gordon are the drivers to try “The Double” previous to Larson, however Stewart is the one one to finish each races in the identical day.

Within the case of this 12 months, the Indy 500 did go the space however the Coca-Cola 600 accomplished solely 249 of 400 laps and was primarily over due to rain by the point Larson arrived in North Carolina.

“I’d like to as a result of I did not get to do ‘The Double’ this 12 months. In order that’s actually why I needed to do it,” Larson mentioned. “I clearly needed to compete within the Indianapolis 500, however greater than something, I needed to do ‘The Double’ and have an opportunity at successful one of many two, or each, and I felt like I simply did not get that chance.”

A call on Indy may come as early as subsequent week.