Race and classic pictures

Larson unveils contenders for Indy-Charlotte double

Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports pulled the covers off the Chevrolet-powered machines that will be raced on the same day in 2024 by Kyle Larson in the Indianapolis 500 and in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

The 31-year-old NASCAR Cup Series driver was present at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday to unveil the liveries of the pair of cars he'll race on May 26, 2024

It will undeniably be the longest day of the year for the 2021 Cup Series champion who will tackle the Indy 500 with Arrow McLaren in the afternoon before jetting off to Charlotte to try and put an additional 600 miles of racing under his belt at the wheel of his Hendrick Chevy.

Larson, whose only IndyCar experience to date has been limited to runs in the simulator, admits that he hasn't yet fully grasped the magnitude of his undertaking.

"I’m super excited to do it," Larson said of his 'double', last attempted by Kurt Busch in 2014.

"It’s been on my mind to do for a long time. I just never felt like the timing was right. I wanted to be able to fully commit to it and take the time that I needed to prep for it.

"It hasn’t really set in yet that it’s truly a reality. When you have days like today and you unveil the car, all those little steps, it definitely makes it seem more real.

"I’m sure once things slow down in the off-season, I’m sure that’s when all the nervousness will start to creep in, as well as the excitement."

Regardless of the outcome of Larson's adventure, he believes that his driving will only benefit from the experience.

"No matter the result from this whole experience, I’m going to come out of it a better race car driver," he said. "I already have, I think, just in the short amount of time I spent in the simulator.

"It’s definitely having the support that I do from the teammates at Arrow McLaren as well as Chevrolet and drivers who have raced IndyCar stuff before as well as stock cars, I’ll have a lot of people to lean on to soak up a lot of knowledge.

"So very, very thankful for that."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.