Only a few drivers have taken on the big challenge of racing 1,100 miles for ‘The Double’ on Memorial Day Weekend. But Cole Pearn thinks there are others who could do it successfully.
This year, Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will start fifth in his first Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. After that, he’ll head to Charlotte for the 600-mile Cup race.
Larson will be the fifth driver ever to try this, following Kurt Busch in 2014, John Andretti, Robby Gordon, and Tony Stewart. Stewart is the only one who finished both races, coming in sixth in the Indy 500 and third in Charlotte in 2001.
Pearn has a special view of both events. He helped Martin Truex Jr. win the 2017 Cup championship. In 2020, Pearn raced in the Indy 500 with Ed Carpenter Racing, about nine months after leaving full-time racing.
Although Pearn hasn’t gone back since then, he understands the challenge. He thinks some current Cup Series drivers could do well in the Indy 500.
“The talent level is high,” Pearn said. “Obviously, Larson, but many of those guys could do it too. Kyle could do it, for sure. Some of these younger guys are doing better and better.
“It’s tough. The Cup level is really tough, especially for rookies. They watered down the Xfinity racing a lot by not having Cup regulars there. So, it’s hard for them to move up to Cup racing.
“But yeah, you have Blaney, Elliott, and that crew. Obviously, Larson is in there.
“I think Christopher Bell could do it too. He’s really talented. I still work with Gibbs. I’m in their aero department, so I see a bit of it, and everything I’ve seen from him is impressive.”
