Kurt Busch ready to try Indy-Charlotte double again

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Kurt Busch driver of the #26 Honda is seen during practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 11, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -  Kurt Busch driver of the #26 Honda is seen during practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 11, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Kurt Busch driver of the #26 Honda is seen during practice for the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 11, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Kurt Busch says he’s ready to give open wheel racing another try. Specifically Busch is ready to try the grueling feat of racing in two major motor racing events in a single day, the Indianapolis 500 for the IndyCar Series and the Coke 600 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

It’s an accomplishment attempted by only three drivers prior to Busch:  John Andretti, Tony Stewart (who is now Kurt Busch’s NASCAR team owner) and Robby Gordon. Andretti was the first driver to attempt the double in 1994; Stewart twice in 1999 and 2001 and Gordon made four attempts the last coming in 2004.

Busch’s attempt came up just a bit short this past May when engine troubles sidelined him at Charlotte after 271 of the 400 laps. It means that his team owner Stewart is the only driver to date to complete all the laps in both races a total of 1100 miles.

Busch returned to Indy Friday for the first time since May MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.