Kevin Harvick keeps it real on Kyle Larson Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 double: ‘I don’t think he has chance to win’

When Kyle Larson is in the field, you always expect him to be a contender. Perhaps he will be in this Sunday’s 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, where he’ll start back in the 19th position.

Kevin Harvick, however, has his doubts. Speaking on Tuesday’s “Happy Hour” podcast, Harvick said he doesn’t believe Larson has a chance to win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, adding that the goal should be to complete the full 1,000 miles between the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I think the goal is to run the 1,100 miles. I don’t think he has a chance to win at Indy,” Harvick said. “Think, with the way they qualified and all the things that have happened this year, I think that hope is out of the picture. Personally, I don’t see it. I think he can come back and be a real contender at the Coke 600 and just being able to finish on the lead lap at Indy and run all 1,000 miles and check that box is probably the most realistic goal for this year.

“But still, an amazing feat. It doesn’t look like he’s having nearly as much fun this year as he did last year, with the couple crashes and everything that’s happening. It will be interesting to see if he moves forward with it after this year after it not being as much fun. … Expectations are high. Going from what he did last year to this year, the expectation is to go there and compete for a win. That was over early.”

Can Kyle Larson complete Indy-Charlotte Double?

This will be Larson’s second attempt at the Indy-Charlotte Double. Last year, the weather impacted his day. Larson finished 18th in the rain-delayed Indy 500 and by the time he made it to Charlotte, Mother Nature had arrived as well. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion did not run a single lap in the Coca-Cola 600.

The build-up to this year’s Indy 500 has been anything but smooth. Larson has crashed twice in the last couple of months, including this past Friday during practice. He managed to qualify for the race, but he isn’t being mentioned as one of the favorites.

Finishing the full 1,000 miles would be an accomplishment, nonetheless. Only one driver, Tony Stewart, has ever done it. Stewart pulled it off in 2001.