Double Duty

Double Duty[1] (also referred to as the Indy-Charlotte Double[2] or Memorial Day Double[2]) is an American auto racing term centered around two events held on Memorial Day weekend in most years – the annual Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana, and the annual Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. A driver is said to have done "Double Duty" when they compete in both races on the same day.

For other uses, see Double Duty (disambiguation).
John Andretti was the first driver to attempt "Double Duty" in 1994.

These two events are regarded as significant events for their respective series, as the Indianapolis 500 is the most prestigious IndyCar race, while the Coca-Cola 600 has for years been considered one of NASCAR's most important races, as it is the longest event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Both races are scheduled to be run on the same day, barring any postponements, with the Indianapolis 500 run in the early afternoon and the Coca-Cola 600 in the evening. For a driver to pull off the “Double”, they must compete at Indianapolis first, then board an airplane following the race and fly to Charlotte to complete the feat. By tradition, the Indianapolis 500 champion will not compete in the Coca Cola 600.

Double Duty is considered physically demanding and mentally draining, as a driver is required to be in a race car for most of the day, cover over one thousand miles in the course of the attempt, and do so with very little rest, if any at all. It is similar in concept to the established discipline of endurance racing, but without the help of a relief driver, and the driver withstanding the very different physical demands of an IndyCar, which is run with an open cockpit, and a stock car, in which the driver is enclosed.

John Andretti was the first driver to attempt the feat, on May 29, 1994.[3] In 2001, Tony Stewart became the first and only driver to date to successfully complete all 1,100 miles of both races in the same day. Four drivers (Andretti, Robby Gordon on five occasions, Stewart twice, and Kurt Busch) have attempted. Of these, Stewart's 2001 effort stands as the best combined result, finishing sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte. Busch made the most recent attempt in 2014, finishing sixth at Indianapolis (where he was the fastest rookie) but dropping out of the Coca-Cola 600 with a blown engine after completing 906 total miles.

Some drivers in the 1960s and 1970s attempted "crossovers," or running both events when they were scheduled on consecutive days, with Donnie Allison competing in both events in the same year.

Logistics
Charlotte Motor Speedway, a quad-oval

The Indianapolis 500 is part of the NTT IndyCar Series, and the Coca-Cola 600 is part of the NASCAR Cup Series. Both races are held, weather permitting, on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is traditionally scheduled in the afternoon, while the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is held as a night race. Since the events are not scheduled to overlap, this allows a driver a small window to travel between venues.

Such an accomplishment can be grueling and physically exhausting. It calls for a driver to race for over seven hours in two entirely different disciplines of racing cars. Along with a 430-mile airplane flight and severe time constraints, the driver has time for only a brief rest aboard the aircraft where they normally take on IV fluids, and are checked out by a physician.

Weather plays a significant factor in the logistics of "Double Duty". If weather cooperates and there is no rain at either venue, delays are usually minimal. However, if rain delays one of the races (particularly Indianapolis), it can significantly disrupt or completely cancel the opportunity for the attempt.

Thru 2020, according to NASCAR rules all drivers were required, without exception, to attend in person the pre-race drivers' meeting or suffer a grid penalty. If a driver misses the meeting for any reason, they were forced to start from last position on the grid. The meeting normally took place approximately two hours before the start of the race (Coca-Cola 600), and under the circumstances of "Double Duty", the driver had little or no opportunity to attend in-person. Despite attempts over the years to lobby officials, including garage area petitions, and use of a video-conference device, drivers attempting "Double Duty" have all been required to start at the back of the grid for the Coca-Cola 600. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR has discontinued in-person drivers' meetings and replaced them with a drivers' briefing e-mailed to drivers the day or two before the race. However to date no driver has attempted "Double Duty" since this change.

Month of May events

When a driver attempts "Double Duty", their schedule is not just limited to race day. Additional flights back-and-forth between the venues are required in the two weeks leading up to the races in order to participate in practice and qualifying for the respective events. Time trials for the Indy 500 are held on Saturday and Sunday one week before the race. This potentially creates conflicts with the NASCAR All-Star Race. Historically drivers have had to sacrifice part or all of Fast Friday running to practice and qualify for the All-Star race and then sacrifice any opportunity for a late-day Saturday attempt at Indianapolis qualifying to make the start of the All-Star Race.

Additionally, during race weekend, historically practice and qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 have taken place on Thursday before the race, with Carb Day at Indianapolis on Friday, and "Happy Hour" practice at Charlotte on Saturday before race day on Sunday leading to more travel. Presently NASCAR has reduced the Cup Series to 2-day shows, meaning practice & qualifying at Charlotte only takes place on Saturday relieving some, but not all travel burdens.

Itinerary
Tony Stewart's 1999 Indy car used in his "Double Duty" attempt.
Tony Stewart's 1999 stock car used in his "Double Duty" attempt.

A driver attempting the "Double Duty" has an extremely busy and tight schedule, particularly for race day. The morning begins in Indianapolis, and at the conclusion of the Indy 500 (or when the drivers drops out of the race), he immediately travels from the Speedway (via helicopter or police escort) to a nearby airport - Eagle Creek, Indianapolis International, or another in the vicinity. The flight from Indianapolis to Concord Regional Airport aboard a private jet takes approximately 55 minutes. From there, the driver will board a helicopter to Charlotte Motor Speedway and land in the infield. Upon arriving at the Coca-Cola 600, the driver is escorted to their car.

The schedule and the logistics are planned well in advance, and even the slightest deviation can cause significant delay and force the driver to miss the second race. Weather can cause unexpected delay, and even force the effort to be aborted. Due to the complex nature of the scheduling, it is standard practice for the driver's respective teams to have back-up relief drivers standing by at both events, in case the schedule is compromised.

Depending upon which of the two events is considered the top priority, a "drop dead" departure time may be assigned at Indy. According to NASCAR & IndyCar rules, the driver who starts the race in the car receives full championship points for that entry. If the driver is a full-time competitor on the Cup Series circuit (and only part-time in IndyCar), the team may require the driver to leave Indy before that race is over in order to arrive at Charlotte on time and receive full points. Conversely, if the Indy 500 is the top priority, and that race is running long, the driver may choose to forgo or delay the trip to Charlotte, and assign the back-up driver to start the 600 instead.

Regarding prize money, NASCAR awards prize money directly to teams based on a complicated charter system regardless of driver. If multiple drivers drive a single car at Indy, prize money will be split based on the distance each driver completed.

In 2001, Tony Stewart's "Double Duty" effort had the following published itinerary:

  • 9:25 a.m. EST (10:25 a.m. EDT): Stewart at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
  • 9:50 a.m. EST (10:50 a.m. EDT): Stewart changes into his fire suit. Driver Richie Hearn standing by to drive relief if necessary.
  • 10:15 a.m. EST (11:15 a.m. EDT): Driver introductions at the Indy 500.
  • 11:00 a.m. EST (12:00 p.m. EDT): Start of Indianapolis 500.
  • 2:30 p.m. EST (3:30 p.m. EDT): Indianapolis 500 completed, Stewart finishes 6th.
  • 2:35 p.m. EST (3:35 p.m. EDT): Stewart rides a golf cart from pit area to the infield care center.
  • 2:45 p.m. EST (3:45 p.m. EDT): Stewart boards a helicopter to Signature/Combs Flight Center.
  • 3:08 p.m. EST (4:08 p.m. EDT): Stewart leaves for Concord Regional Airport on a Citation Ten private jet. Stewart is administered two liters of IV fluids.
  • 5:03 p.m. EDT: Plane lands at Concord Regional Airport.
  • 5:10 p.m. EDT: Stewart changes clothes and boards helicopter to travel to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • 5:20 p.m. EDT: The helicopter lands in the Charlotte Motor Speedway infield, in front of the start/finish line. Stewart waves to fans and climbs into his car. (The team had Mike McLaughlin ready if Stewart did not arrive in time.)
  • 5:37 p.m. EDT: Starting command for Coca-Cola 600 given, Stewart's car is moved to 43rd (last) starting position as a penalty for missing the pre-race drivers' meeting.
  • 5:45 p.m. EDT: Start of the Coca-Cola 600.
  • 10:00 p.m. EDT: Coca-Cola 600 completed, Stewart finished 3rd.

"Cross-over" history (1960–1993)
Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis 500 debuted in 1911, and from its onset, was scheduled in conjunction with Memorial Day. In 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway was completed, and the inaugural World 600 was scheduled for Memorial Day weekend as well. However, for 1960, it was postponed until June 19 in order to ready the facility.

Starting in 1961, both Indy and Charlotte were scheduled around Memorial Day. Through the 1960s, the Indy 500 was normally scheduled for Memorial Day proper (May 30) regardless of the day of the week. When May 30 fell on a Sunday, the Indy 500 was moved to Monday May 31. At Charlotte, the World 600 was to be scheduled for the Sunday closest to Memorial Day. Thus for more than a decade, the two races were held on different days of the week. This prompted a handful of NASCAR regulars to attempt to race in the Indy 500. On a few occasions, drivers were able to "cross-over" and compete in both events, or skip the race at Charlotte in favor of Indy.

The NASCAR points system utilized at the time, as well as the structure of the schedule itself, differed substantially from modern times. The system was much more forgiving of drivers who missed a single race, which is why some drivers chose to skip Charlotte altogether.

In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect, and began to alter the respective schedules for the races. Starting in 1974, the Indy 500 was permanently moved to the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Thus from 1974 to 1992, the races were scheduled for the same day, and at roughly the same starting time. Therefore, drivers were not able to compete in both events. Furthermore, in 1975, the NASCAR points system was overhauled, and became much more unforgiving to drivers missing individual races. Very few NASCAR regulars would choose to skip Charlotte, which was emerging as one of the crown jewels on the Winston Cup calendar.

Starting in 1985, the World 600 secured the sponsorship of The Coca-Cola Company, and henceforth became known as the Coca-Cola 600.

1963

NASCAR regular Junior Johnson entered at Indy, but did not qualify. Curtis Turner passed a rookie test,[4] but later crashed in practice.

1965

The World 600 is held on Sunday May 23,[5] and the Indy 500 is held on Monday May 31. The NASCAR Wood Brothers pit crew were invited to Indy to service the Lotus-Ford entries of Jim Clark and Bobby Johns.[6][7][8][9] Bobby Johns was a NASCAR semi-regular, and he skipped Charlotte to concentrate on Indy.

1966

NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough skips Charlotte and races at Indy. He finishes 28th.[10] The Wood Brothers pit crew returned for a second year, but the car they were to service (Dan Gurney), crashed out on the first lap.

1967

The World 600 is held on Sunday May 28,[11] and the Indy 500 is scheduled for Tuesday May 30. NASCAR driver LeeRoy Yarbrough skips Charlotte and races at Indy. He finishes 27th,[12] having been involved in three separate spins. Cale Yarborough becomes the first driver to compete in both races in the same year. He dropped out with broken steering and finished 41st at Charlotte. At Indy he placed 17th, spinning out once, and crashing out late in the race.

A rain delay caused the Indy 500 to be held over two days, May 30–31.

1968

The World 600 is held on Sunday May 26,[13] and the Indy 500 is held Thursday May 30. Jerry Grant becomes the second driver to compete in both races in the same year. He finished 12th at Charlotte and 23rd at Indy.[14]

1969

The World 600 is held on Sunday May 25,[15] and the Indy 500 is held Friday May 30. NASCAR driver Lee Roy Yarbrough won the race at Charlotte, and at Indy, he finished 23rd.[16] Charlie Glotzbach, a NASCAR regular, entered at Indy, but failed to qualify.

1970

The World 600 is held on Sunday May 24,[17] and the Indy 500 is held Saturday May 30. NASCAR driver Donnie Allison won the race at Charlotte, and finished 4th at Indy. To date, it is the best combined performance for both races. Lee Roy Yarbrough also competed in both events. He finished 29th at Charlotte and 19th at Indy.

The day after Indy (Sunday May 31), Yarbrough flew to Martinsville to race in the Virginia 500.[18] He dropped out and finished 26th. For the second year in a row, Charlie Glotzbach (who finished 25th at Charlotte) entered, but failed to qualify at Indy.

1971
Cale Yarborough

Memorial Day is moved to Monday, and the Indy 500 is held Saturday May 29. The World 600 is held the very next day, Sunday May 30.[19] NASCAR driver Donnie Allison finished 6th at Indy on Saturday, and finished 2nd at the race at Charlotte. Cale Yarborough skipped Charlotte, and managed to finish 16th at Indy. Sunday night, Donnie Allison flew back to Indianapolis in time to attend the 500 Victory Banquet.[20]

1972

The races are held on successive days again, but no drivers attempt to race in both. Cale Yarborough skipped Charlotte once again, and finish 10th at Indy.

1973

Charlotte is held on Sunday May 27,[21] while Indy is scheduled for Monday May 28. Due to rain, the Indy 500 is not held until Wednesday May 30. Bobby Allison skipped Charlotte and raced at Indy for the first time.

1974

The two events are held on the same day for the first time, with roughly the same start time. No drivers attempt a "cross over."

1975

Bobby Allison skipped Charlotte and raced at Indy. This would be the final time during this era that a noteworthy NASCAR regular did a "cross over" to the Indy 500.

1976

Rookie Janet Guthrie made a highly publicized attempt to qualify at the Indy 500. However, she was not able to get her car up to speed and did not make a qualifying attempt. After creating a media stir, and with the spotlight still on her, she quickly found herself an alternative. Promoter Humpy Wheeler consummated a deal for Guthrie to acquire a car from NASCAR owner Ralph Moody, and within 48 hours, flew her to Charlotte to qualify instead for the World 600.[22] Guthrie started 27th and finished 15th. It was her first NASCAR Winston Cup Series start.

1979

NASCAR regular Neil Bonnett entered at Indy looking to qualify. He was up to speed, however, he suffered a blown engine on the morning of pole qualifying. The following weekend, rain complicated his schedule, and he decided to withdraw from Indy.

1980

Future NASCAR star Tim Richmond, who started his professional driving career in Indy cars, won the Rookie of the Year Award at Indianapolis.

1983

Future NASCAR driver Ken Schrader entered at Indy. He crashed during practice and failed to qualify.

Double Duty history (1994–2015)
Night racing was introduced at Charlotte Motor Speedway starting in 1992.

In 1992, Musco Lighting Company installed lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway, becoming the first "speedway" to allow for night racing. For 1992, The Winston was held under-the-lights, but the Coca-Cola 600 was still held during the afternoon. In 1993, the start time for the Coca-Cola 600 was moved to 4:30 p.m. eastern, which eliminated overlap with the Indy 500, and the race became an evening/night race. The 4:30 p.m. start time did not yet allow adequate time for a competitor to complete both, but the idea was planted, and subsequent years, the start time for the 600 was moved later, and a travel window would open up.

1994

IndyCar veteran John Andretti switched full-time to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series starting in 1994, but desired to also compete in the Indy 500. Andretti announced that he would become the first driver ever to attempt to drive in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. Andretti successfully qualified for both events, and planned a detailed travel itinerary. On race day, Andretti got off to a good start early on. He was running as high as third at Indianapolis during the first half of the race. At the checkered flag, Andretti finished 10th at Indy. He then immediately boarded a helicopter to the airport. He flew to Charlotte, and arrived in just enough time to make the start for the Coca-Cola 600. Since Andretti missed the pre-race drivers' meeting, he was forced to start at the back of the field at Charlotte. He dropped out on lap 220 with engine failure, and finished 36th.

Later in the year, Andretti raced in the Inaugural Brickyard 400. Indy 500 veterans Danny Sullivan, A. J. Foyt, and Geoff Brabham also qualified for the event. But Andretti became the first driver to compete in both events in the same season.

1995

IndyCar veteran Davy Jones announced plans to attempt the "Double Duty." He qualified at Indy, but failed to qualify at Charlotte.

1996

No drivers or teams expressed interest in attempting the double in 1996. Meanwhile, the open wheel "split" was the focus of the month at Indy.

1997
Robby Gordon has attempted "Double Duty" five times.

IndyCar veteran Robby Gordon switched full-time to NASCAR for 1997. Driving for the Felix Sabates SABCO Racing team, he was entered in both races, a highly funded, and highly publicized effort. On race day, however, the Indy 500 was rained out, and the opportunity for the true "Double Duty" was eliminated. Gordon departed the grounds, and went directly to Charlotte when the postponement was announced. Gordon finished 41st at Charlotte after a crash. On Monday, Gordon flew back to Indy, and started the race. The race was halted on lap 15 due to rain, and the conclusion was pushed into Tuesday. On Tuesday, Gordon dropped out early with a fire, and finished 29th.

1998

No drivers attempted the "Double Duty," but one crew member worked both races. Dale Earnhardt's gasman Danny "Chocolate" Myers was invited to also serve as the fueler for Billy Boat's car at A.J. Foyt Racing.[23]

1999

Tony Stewart, an IRL regular from 1996 to 1998, switched to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series for the 1999 season. He arranged to attempt "Double Duty" for the first time in 1999. On pole day at Indy, Stewart had to make his qualifying attempt, then quickly fly to Charlotte in order to participate in the Winston Open. He was forced to take a fairly slow speed in time trials, and ended up qualifying 24th at Indy. That evening, Stewart won the Winston Open, and finished second in main event, The Winston. On race day, Stewart finished 9th at the Indy 500, but was not much of a factor. At Charlotte, Stewart led laps, and finished 4th.

Robby Gordon and Roberto Moreno became the first two drivers to compete in a CART event and then at the Indianapolis 500 on consecutive days. The Motorola 300 at Gateway was held on Saturday May 29. Moreno finished 4th, and Gordon crashed and finished 27th. On Sunday May 30, Gordon and Moreno both returned to Indy. Gordon nearly won, running out of fuel just shy of the white flag. He ended up 4th. Moreno dropped out and finished 20th.

2000

Robby Gordon attempted "Double Duty" for the second time.[24] On race day, rain delayed the start of the Indy 500 by three hours. Gordon remained at Indianapolis, and started the race as planned. He finished 6th, and back-up driver P. J. Jones started his car at Charlotte instead. After the Indy 500 was over, Gordon flew to Charlotte, and during a pit stop, took over the car from Jones. He drove the car to a 35th-place finish.

Three other drivers competed in multiple events during the weekend. Juan Pablo Montoya and Jimmy Vasser participated in the CART Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix at Nazareth Speedway on Saturday, the day before the Indy 500. Montoya finished 4th, and Vasser 7th. Also on Saturday, Jason Leffler traveled to Charlotte to participate in the NASCAR Busch Series Carquest Auto Parts 300. Leffler finished 21st at Charlotte. All three were back to Indy on Sunday.

2001
Tony Stewart completed all 1,100 miles in 2001.

For the second time, Tony Stewart decided to attempt "Double Duty." Still part of Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR, he signed with Chip Ganassi Racing for Indy. On race day, Stewart was a factor all day, leading 13 laps. Despite a brief rain shower, the race did not have a significant delay. Stewart wound up finishing 6th at Indy, on the lead lap. He immediately departed for Charlotte, and made it to the track in just enough time. Starting last due to missing the drivers' meeting, Stewart spun out on lap 2, but claimed it was not due to fatigue. As the race continued, Stewart climbed up the standings, and finished third, on the lead lap. He became the first, and to date, only driver to complete all 1,100 miles of both races in the same day.[25]

2002

Robby Gordon attempted "Double Duty" for the third time, and for the first time, rain did not interfere with his effort. At Indy, he finished 8th on the lead lap. At Charlotte, he started last (due to missing the drivers' meeting), but worked his way up to the top five. He started suffering from handling problems, and cramps in his leg, and he fell two laps down. He made up one lap, and finished 16th. At the end of the day, he was one lap short of completing the entire 1,100 miles.[26]

2003

Robby Gordon attempted "Double Duty" for the fourth time. He qualified on the front row at Indy, but dropped out with gearbox trouble (22nd place). Due to his early retirement, and with adequate time, Gordon received a police escort by car to the airport instead of a helicopter ride. At Charlotte, Gordon was running 17th when the race was called for rain on lap 276 of 400 (414 miles). A week after race day, ESPN aired a one-hour documentary profiling the effort.

2004

For the third year in a row and fifth time overall, Robby Gordon attempted "Double Duty." On race day, rain delayed the start of the Indy 500 by two hours. Gordon started the race as planned. On lap 27, the red flag came out for rain, and the race was halted. It appeared that the rest of the day would likely be a washout, so Gordon departed for Charlotte. After another two hours, the track dried, and the race resumed. Jaques Lazier was standing by, and climbed in Gordon's car to drive relief. He worked his way up the standings, but dropped out on lap 88 with a broken axle. Meanwhile, at Charlotte, Robby Gordon finished 20th, three laps down.

On Bump Day (May 23), Tony Stewart created a stir when he made an unexpected visit to the Speedway. After finishing third the previous night in the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, Stewart was seen in the Foyt garages climbing into a car and at one point even donned a driver's suit. The car was wheeled to the pits and it appeared Stewart was preparing to take practice laps. Members of the media converged, and rumors began buzzing around the track about a possible "Double Duty" attempt. Stewart awaited permission from his sponsors to drive the car, but no deal could be arranged. A. J. Foyt and Stewart were given the dubious "Jigger Award" for pumping life into an otherwise uneventful day.

2005–2012

In 2005, the start time for the Indy 500 was moved to 12 p.m. EST (1 p.m. EDT), which significantly reduced the amount of time available for travel between the events. From 2005 to 2010, the time frame was deemed insufficient,[27] and despite various rumors of possible attempts over the years, the opportunity to perform "Double Duty" was effectively on hiatus.

During this period, while no drivers attempted to compete in both races, some drivers and owners attended both races in whole or in part. In 2006, Penske Racing's Kurt Busch was in attendance at Indianapolis the morning of the race and watched the start of the 500 as a guest of Team Penske. Shortly after, he flew to Charlotte to arrive in time for the drivers meeting, and raced in the 600. In 2007, Richard Petty watched the start of the Indy 500, along with Robbie Loomis and Dale Inman. They then flew to Charlotte to attend the 600. Car owner Chip Ganassi was also scheduled to attend both races, but due to a mid-race rain delay, remained at Indy. In 2010, Ganassi won at Indy with driver Dario Franchitti, then later flew to Charlotte to take in the second half of the 600. His driver Jamie McMurray finished second in the 600.

For 2011, the start time for the Indy 500 was moved back to 12 noon EDT,[28] which effectively re-opened the travel window and made it possible to attempt "Double Duty" once again. Rumors began to surface that drivers (namely Robby Gordon) were interested in making the attempt. NASCAR regulars Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne also reportedly expressed interest, and a rumor of a $20 million award for winning both races circulated.[29] No plans ever materialized. A year later, despite some rumors about possibly doing the double in 2012, Danica Patrick also nixed plans to compete in both races.[30]

2013
Kurt Busch

In early May 2013, 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Kurt Busch tested for Andretti Autosport at Indianapolis, opening up the possibility of a "Double Duty" attempt in 2014.[31] During the private test, Busch reached a top lap of 218 mph.[32] Busch successfully passed his initial rookie test for the Indianapolis 500.

2014

On March 4, 2014, it was announced that Kurt Busch would attempt "Double Duty" with Andretti Autosport.[33] The effort was done in-part to help raise awareness for military veterans with PTSD and TBI.[34] Busch took part in a refresher test on April 29,[35] and a week later participated in the annual Rookie Orientation Program.[36] Busch led the speed chart on Rookie Orientation day, then posted the second-fastest speed on May 13.

On May 17, the first day of time trials, Busch made two qualifying attempts, and posted the 10th-fastest speed, just missing the Fast Nine Shootout. Just moments after his second attempt, he boarded a helicopter and then flew to Charlotte to compete in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Busch finished 11th in the All-Star Race, then flew back to Indianapolis for the second day of time trials. On May 18, Busch qualified for the 12th starting position for the Indy 500. On Monday, Busch participated in the post-qualifying practice session at Indy. About an hour and a half into the session, he suffered a hard crash in the exit of turn two. He was uninjured but forced to switch to a backup car for Carb Day and race day.

On race day at Indianapolis, Busch started 12th, and fell back to as low as 20th. Although he was not a factor for the win, he finished on the lead lap in 6th and was the highest-finishing rookie. He tied with Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart as the three drivers to finish 6th, the best Indianapolis finish for Double Duty drivers. Busch arrived in Charlotte with time to spare, but was still required to start at the rear of the field due to missing the mandatory pre-race driver's meeting. He ran as high as the top 15, but ultimately failed to finish with a mid-race engine failure. He completed a total of 906 miles (1,458 km) of racing. Busch was named the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year. Busch's effort was documented on the NBCSN series 36.

2015–present

Indiana native Jeff Gordon, during his last Cup Series season, drove the pace car at the start of the 2015 Indianapolis 500 before flying to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. He has never competed in the Indy 500, although he did win the Brickyard 400 five times.

In 2015, Doug Rice, the anchor of the Performance Racing Network, as well as the anchor for the Brickyard 400 on the IMS Radio Network, joined the broadcast crew as a pit reporter for the Indy 500. Rice performed broadcasting "double duty", working the pits for the Indy 500, then flying to Charlotte Motor Speedway to call the Coca-Cola 600 later that evening.[37] He is believed to be the first broadcaster to cover both races in-person on the same day.

For 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, despite some very early rumors, no drivers attempted double duty at Indy and Charlotte.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Indianapolis 500 to be moved from May to August while the Coca-Cola 600 remained on its scheduled date. While it was consequently possible for a driver to compete in both races, the rescheduled Indy 500 date fell on the same day as a Cup race at Dover International Speedway, making it impossible to run both races. James Davison skipped the practice session at Indy following the Fast 9 Shootout to compete in that day's Go Bowling 235 Cup race at the Daytona Road Course.[38] Complications from the pandemic extended into 2021 as the Indianapolis 500 qualifying clashed with the Cup Series' Texas Grand Prix. In order to compete at both COTA and the Indy 500, NASCAR drivers would have had to sacrifice practice time at both events. In addition, the race at COTA started almost immediately after the Fast 9 Shootout at Indy, ruling out a pole run. Davison and Cup teammate Cody Ware initially entered the Indy 500 but opted to remain in NASCAR and run the 600, though the latter was due to a lack of sponsorship.[39][40]

Kyle Larson will attempt to do Double Duty in 2024, as the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion will run the 2024 Indy 500 for Arrow McLaren and the 2024 Cola–Cola 600 for Hendrick Motorsports.[41]

Race results

The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for 200 laps (500 miles). The Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled for 400 laps (600 miles). The typical number of starters, respectively, for each race is 33 (Indianapolis) and 40 (Charlotte). During this period, the only deviation was in 1997, when the Indianapolis 500 had 35 starters due to extenuating circumstances following the close of time trials.

Year Driver Indianapolis 500 Results Coca-Cola 600 Results
Team Laps Finish Report Team Laps Finish Report
1994 United States John Andretti A. J. Foyt Enterprises 196 10th Report Hagan Racing 220 36th Report
1995 United States Davy Jones Dick Simon Racing 161 23rd Report D. K. Ulrich  — DNQ Report
1997 United States Robby Gordon SABCO Racing 19 29th Report SABCO Racing 186 (of 333) 41st Report
1999 United States Tony Stewart TriStar Motorsports 196 9th Report Joe Gibbs Racing 400 4th Report
2000 United States Robby Gordon Team Menard 200 6th Report Team Menard 389 35th* Report
2001 United States Tony Stewart Chip Ganassi Racing 200 6th Report Joe Gibbs Racing 400 3rd Report
2002 United States Robby Gordon Team Menard/RCR 200 8th Report Richard Childress Racing 399 16th Report
2003 United States Robby Gordon Andretti Green Racing 169 22nd Report Richard Childress Racing 275 (of 276) 17th Report
2004 United States Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports 88 (of 180) 29th* Report Richard Childress Racing 397 20th Report
2014 United States Kurt Busch Andretti Autosport 200 6th Report Stewart-Haas Racing 271 40th Report
  • 2000: P. J. Jones started the race and was officially credited with the race points
  • 2004: Jaques Lazier took over during a rain delay and drove the final 61 laps

Source: RacingReference.info & IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com

Statistics / Records
  • Best combined results for both races
    • 6th at Indianapolis & 3rd at Charlotte, Tony Stewart (2001)
  • Most combined laps/miles completed for both races: 600 laps / 1,100 miles (Tony Stewart, 2001)
  • Best individual Indianapolis 500 result
    • 6th: Robby Gordon (2000)
    • 6th: Tony Stewart (2001)
    • 6th: Kurt Busch (2014)
  • Best individual Coca-Cola 600 result
    • 3rd: Tony Stewart (2001)

Other uses of the term

Indianapolis 500 and Grand Prix of Monaco

During the 1960s and 1970s, a handful of drivers raced at the Indianapolis 500 while maintaining a full-time schedule in Formula One. This would require them to travel between Indianapolis and Europe during the month of May, usually between Indy and the Monaco Grand Prix at Monte Carlo, two of the three components of the Triple Crown of Motorsport. For many years, Indy and Monaco were not held on the same day. Furthermore, prior to 1971, the Indy 500 was held on May 30 regardless of the day of the week (unless it fell on a Sunday, in which case it was scheduled for Monday May 31). With the Indy 500 often falling on a weekday, and Monaco usually held on a Sunday a week or two prior, travel burdens were relatively workable.

Racing at both Indy and Monaco in the same year became mostly impossible after Indy was moved to race on Sunday starting in 1974, and Monaco likewise was eventually moved to the last Sunday in May (same day as Indy), ending just a couple hours before the green flag dropped at Indianapolis.

In 2021, Monaco ran the weekend before the Indianapolis 500. Some questioned if Fernando Alonso, who had attempted to qualify for Indy in three of the past four runnings would attempt double duty. However, in addition to scheduling conflicts with Monaco and Indy 500 qualifying, Alonso's new contract with Renault (rebranded Alpine F1 Team after his signing) specifically forbids an Indianapolis 500 attempt due to safety concerns.[42]

Same weekend races

There are other lesser, informal uses of the term "Double Duty" in context to motorsports. Namely instances where a driver competes in two major races on the same day or on successive days. This occurs in a fairly regular fashion in NASCAR, where a driver (often numerous drivers) compete in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series events, or even Gander Outdoors Truck Series races; this practice is widely known as "Buschwhacking" (in reference to the Xfinity Series' then-title sponsor Busch beer). However, in most cases, the multiple events take place at the same venue, diminishing the complexity of the feat. At times, some drivers even raced the entire NASCAR Cup and entire Xfinity schedule, which included some travel between cities for a handful of weekends where the two series were at different venues.

On rare occasions, there have been situations in which an Xfinity Series race became rained out, and was rescheduled for the day of the NASCAR Cup race. This occurred the weekend of the 2007 Winn-Dixie 250 and Pepsi 400 at Daytona, and the 2010 spring weekend at Talladega, with the Aaron's 312 happening after the Aaron's 499. In the later case, the resulting distance was over 851 miles distance traveled, as both races were extended by green-white-checkered finishes. Ironically, in the latter, Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray were the top two cars at the white flag for both races; Harvick won the Cup race by a bumper over McMurray, and McMurray started the big one as Brad Keselowski snuck by Harvick for the win during the Xfinity Series race.

Similarly, double duty has occurred in instances where a NASCAR driver also takes part in a support race (namely Grand Am), but seldom attempted when the races were at different tracks. This is more prevalent at road courses such as Watkins Glen or Sonoma. Another example of this is at Daytona, where the Paul Revere 250 was held the same day as the Firecracker 400 numerous times, and several drivers competed in both.

Another short-lived "double duty" occurred between the Indianapolis 500 and IMSA. A few drivers, Geoff Brabham, Kevin Cogan, and Rocky Moran, competed at Indy on Sunday, and at Lime Rock on Monday.

In 2020, due to scheduling changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the IndyCar Series announced that it would hold its GMR Grand Prix road course race on July 4, as part of a double-header with the Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 (which, for the 2020 season, will be moved from the oval to the road course as well), a support race for the Cup Series Brickyard 400. A USAC dirt track event known as the Driven2SaveLives BC39 is also held during the Brickyard 400 week, leading Tony Stewart (who has occasionally participated in dirt track events) to envision the theoretical possibility of racing all four events.[43][44] Stewart ended up not attempting any races, citing financial challenges and lack of fan attendance due to the pandemic. The dirt event was also subsequently cancelled.

Footnotes

Works cited

References
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  2. Pennell, Jay (2014-03-08). "Kurt Busch on Indy-Charlotte double: 'I'm driving for the military.'". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  3. "John Andretti – Indy's first 'Double Duty.'". Crash.net. 2001-07-27. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  4. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. May 6, 2014. WFNI.
  5. "1965 World 600". RacingReference.info. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
  6. "The Talk of Gasoline Alley," WFNI: May 9, 2012
  7. The History of the 500 - WFNI/WIBC: Episode 10, 2013
  8. The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, August 6, 2005
  9. "Leonard Wood has NASCAR Hall of Fame credentials". Fox Sports. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  10. "Official Box Score 50th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race". Indy500.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
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  12. "Official Box Score 51st Indianapolis 500-Mile". Indy500.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
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  20. The Talk of Gasoline Alley. July 22, 2014. WFNI.
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  22. Aumann, Mark (2009-05-19). "Guthrie opens NASCAR to a whole new World in 1976". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  23. Fleischman, Bill (1998-05-20). "He'll Hit The Gas Crew Member Plans To Pull Double Duty At Indy, Charlotte". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
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  26. Jenkins, Chris (2002-05-27). "Double duty of 1,098.5 miles 'worth it' for Gordon". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
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  28. "Indianapolis 500 Moves To Noon". RTV6. 2011-04-21. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  29. Tuttle, Tim (2010-05-19). "Smith's NASCAR/IndyCar idea has potential, but plan must be revised". Sports Illustrated.
  30. Spencer, Lee (2012-01-26). "Danica to run Coca-Cola 600 in 2012". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  31. "Kurt Busch passes Indy test". ESPN.com. 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  32. Cavin, Curt (2013-05-10). "Indianapolis 500 blog: On Kurt Busch and Marco Andretti". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  33. Gluck, Jeff (2014-03-04). "Kurt Busch to attempt Indianapolis 500, Coke 600 'double'". USA Today. McLean, VA. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  34. "Kurt Busch & The Double". Kurt Busch & The Double. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. Trackside with Kurt Cavin and Kevin Lee. April 21, 2014. WFNI.
  36. Lewandowski, Dave (May 5, 2014). "Indy 500 rookies breeze through the program". IndyCar.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  37. DiZinno, Tony (May 15, 2015). "PRN radio reporter Doug Rice to pull Memorial Day broadcast double with Shell support". Motor Sports Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  38. Sears, Ethan (August 15, 2020). "James Davison will race at Daytona on Sunday and skip Indy 500 practice". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  39. Pruett, Mashall (April 5, 2021). "Davison confirms 2021 Cup plans, rules out Indy 500 return". Racer. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  40. "Cody Ware still needs more sponsorship to attempt his debut at Indy 500 next month". NBC Sports. AP. April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  41. "Larson To Drive in 2024 Indianapolis 500 with McLaren Racing". IndyCar.com. No. January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  42. "Alonso: Indy 500 will be "impossible" during F1 return with Renault". www.autosport.com. August 11, 2020.
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  44. "Could Tony Stewart attempt four races during the Brickyard weekend? 'Get me the good rides'". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
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