Larson names 'priority' as Indy 500 delay threatens Double Duty

Kyle Larson has named the Indy 500 as his "priority" as a weather delay threatens his hopes of doing Double Duty. 

The start of the 500 has been delayed due to thunderstorms in Indiana, with Larson already on a tight schedule owing to his commitment to be at the NASCAR Cup Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

It is the first time since Kurt Busch in 2014 that a driver has attempted the two, but Cup points leader Larson has a dilemma with the weather delay threatening his plans to be in the NASCAR race.

Driving a McLaren-Chevrolet, Larson has qualified fifth for his first 500, but with the weather delay, has revealed that his preference is to stay and compete in the 200-mile race at the Brickyard.

"I think our plan is to keep this as the priority, so I thought I'd be here racing and I'm bummed about that because I want it to just rain out today, with the rain coming," he told NBC Sports.

"I'd rather the storm be bigger and last longer but it looks like that window and I guess we might be able to get it dry and race today - and then that affects things for the 600. 

"It is still weather, so you don't know how it is going to be exactly, I would say the worst-case scenario is happening and it is a bummer more than anything. 

"It is not just my decision, it is everybody within Hendrick, Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews and there is so much time and investment into this Indy 500, it's been building up for over a year and we need to run it. 

"I want to and feel like I have a good shot to potentially win. I want to be here and hope we can get both races in, the full distance and I don't care if it is on the same day. I just want to race both races and the full-distance."

Gordon, the four-time Cup Series champion and Hendrick's number two in command is overseeing the project, and added to NBC Sports that "We have every intention of getting Kyle Larson to Charlotte. 

"We are going to do everything we can to watch the weather and play the logistics game but even if we run Indy we want to get him to Charlotte."