Kyle Busch recently made waves in the racing world by revealing a long-held frustration regarding missed opportunities to compete in the prestigious Indianapolis 500. In a revealing interview on Denny Hamlin’s podcast, “Actions Detrimental,” Busch shared that twice he came close to participating in the Indy 500, only to have both chances slip away—one of them, he claims, directly due to a decision by his former team owner, Joe Gibbs.
In 2017, Busch had lined up a potential drive with McLaren, a top-tier team, with sponsorship from M&M’s. He had also secured approval from both Toyota and Chevrolet for the unique crossover event. Everything appeared to be in place, but Gibbs refused to give the final go-ahead, effectively ending Busch’s shot at attempting the fabled “Double Duty”—competing in the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Busch described the situation as heartbreaking, believing he had a genuine shot to make history.
Years later, in 2024, a similar opportunity came up after Busch had moved to Richard Childress Racing. Once again, a deal was nearly finalized with McLaren. However, this time, the agreement fell apart when McLaren requested the sponsor purchase the car outright, a demand the sponsor declined. That opening ultimately went to Kyle Larson, who took the seat that Busch had long been eyeing.
Busch’s candid comments have stirred intense discussion in the NASCAR and IndyCar communities. Despite the setbacks, Busch remains optimistic that one day he’ll get his shot at the Indy 500, determined not to let the dream die.
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