Logistics
The Indianapolis 500 is part of the IndyCar Series, and the Coca-Cola 600 is part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Both races are held the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is traditionally scheduled in the afternoon, while the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is held as a night race. Since the events are not scheduled to overlap, this allows a driver a small window to travel between venues.
Such an accomplishment can be grueling and physically exhausting. It calls for a driver to race for over seven hours in two entirely different disciplines of racing cars. Along with a 430-mile airplane flight, and severe time constraints, the driver has time for only a brief rest aboard the aircraft where he normally takes on IV fluids, and is checked out by a physician.
Weather plays a significant factor in the logistics of "Double Duty." If weather cooperates and there is no rain at either venue, delays are usually minimal. However, if rain delays one of the races (particularly Indianapolis), it can significantly disrupt or completely cancel the opportunity for the attempt.
According to NASCAR rules, all drivers are required, without exception, to attend in person the pre-race drivers' meeting or suffer penalty. If a driver misses the meeting for any reason, he is forced to start from last position on the grid. The meeting normally takes place approximately two hours before the start of the race (Coca-Cola 600), and under the circumstances of "Double Duty," the driver would have little or no opportunity to attend in-person. Despite attempts over the years to lobby the officials, including garage area petitions, and use of a video-conference device, drivers attempting "Double Duty" have all been required to start at the back of the grid for the Coca-Cola 600.
Read more about this topic: The Double (auto Racing)