Kyle Larson certainly hopes for cooperative weather as he takes aim at his second attempt at The Double — racing the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and Coca-Cola 600 the same day on May 25.

But of course, backup plans are necessary for undertakings as intricately scheduled as the Hendrick 1100 initiative where Larson would prioritize the Coke 600 should wet weather impede Indy 500 race day.

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Arrow McLaren team principal and 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan is preparing to serve as the standby driver for Larson and the No. 17 Arrow McLaren team in case the former NASCAR Cup champ faces potential scheduling conflicts. 

Last year, a three-hour rain delay at the Indy 500 eventually prevented Larson from competing in the Coke 600 that night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kanaan was supposed to a complete a veteran refresher course Wednesday morning, but rainy weather has pushed that back to Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.

“I just have to do the refresher and then, of course, I’m going to have a feel for the car,” the 51-year-old Kanaan said in an interview Wednesday on the FOX Sports broadcast. “Of course, with my experience, we’re not going to make any changes. We’re not looking for an advantage. We’re looking for something that, if Kyle can’t start this race, I’ll start. But for sure I’ll get a feel for it. For sure I’ll have an opinion about it."

Kanaan, who lasted raced in the 2023 Indy 500 where he started ninth and finished 16th, would take his first laps in IndyCar's new hybrid engine that debuted last July. 

“I think a few people are a little nervous,” Kanaan added through a laugh. “This is my first time back in the car as team principal, if how much I’m going to judge their setup. But talking with (Larson) throughout the month, I’ll have an even better idea if I can help him out.

“Honestly, I’m just looking to get this (the refresher course) out of the way,” Kanaan added. “I have a lot of work to do outside the car. Hopefully Mother Nature will allow Kyle to start this race because we have all the sponsor commitments and team commitments. Going to bed at 11:30 at night, I don’t think I’ll be ready to wake up in the morning and jump in a race car, but we’ll see.”

The only way Kanaan would appear in Larson's No. 17 machine at the Indy 500 if Larson can't somehow start The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. IndyCar's rule is only the driver who starts the race can finish it, meaning Kanaan cannot sub mid-race should Larson start the event.

Kanaan took over as Arrow McLaren’s team principal February 2025 after serving as deputy team principal and special advisor and said the transition is simply "going well."

“It’s going well. Obviously I have great people working for me,” Kanaan said. “We had to make some changes, some key changes, but we keep grinding. I’m using the same mentality as I did when I was a race car driver. I have people around me, I want people to work for me. I mean, the title of a team principal is just a title. I think we’re a team and we make each other accountable.”

Arrow McLaren’s brought a young, talented lineup to the 2025 Indy 500: last year's runner-up in 26-year-old Pato O’Ward, 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in 20-year-old Nolan Siegel, rookie 23-year-old Christian Lundgaard and of course the 32-year-old Larson.

Counting Tuesday's opening day, the McLaren team hasn't shown the most speed through Wednesday's final half of practice, with Larson's lap of 223.088 mph (16th of 34 drivers as of 3:00 p.m. Wednesday) the fastest so far among his teammates.

"I think we have a pretty good group of drivers. My job now is to give them a great car, not teach anyone how to drive because I think if you put their results together, they were much better than me already," Kanaan said. "But it’s to give them the opportunity in the cars to maybe get another one of these.”

"Being team principal, I have four chances now instead of just myself.”