On Sunday, for the ninth time, a driver will attempt to race both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Kurt Busch is the latest to sign up for this most daring of double-duty, driving at Indy for Andretti Autosport. Green flag is at noon (ET) for open-wheel’s biggest race. Later Sunday afternoon he’ll jet down to Charlotte to jump into his #41 Haas Automation Made in America Chevy for the 6:00pm/et start.
The eight previous double-dips have been divided up by only three drivers – John Andretti (1994), Robby Gordon (1997, 2000, 2002-2004) and Tony Stewart (1999 and 2001). Stewart has the best result – by far – in the books, having finished sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte in 2001, in the process becoming the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles between the two races.
The results in the ‘doubles’:
(year – driverL Indy Finish, CMS finish, total laps / total miles)
1994 – John Andretti: 10, 36, 416 / 820
1997 – Robby Gordon: 29, 41, 205 / 326.5
1999 – Tony Stewart: 9, 4, 596 / 1090
2000* – Robby Gordon: 6, 35, 335 / 702.5
2001 – Tony Stewart: 6, 3, 600 / 1100 (all laps both races)
2002 – Robby Gordon: 8, 16, 599 / 1098.5
2003 – Robby Gordon: 22, 17, 444 / 835
2004 – Robby Gordon: 29, 20, 485 / 815.5
UPDATE: 2014 – Kurt Busch: 6, 40, 471 / 906.5
*Note: in 2000 Gordon arrived late to CMS and P.J. Jones started the car, Gordon ran 135 laps and finished 35th, credited to Jones.
Busch will start 12th for the Indianapolis 500, but crashed in a Monday practice session and will be forced to a back-up car, but maintains his starting position. Busch will start 28th in the Coca Cola 600.(in part from NASCAR and in part from research)(5-25-2014)
