More NASCAR drivers hoping to start their engines at Indy 500 some day soon

Back in the 1970s, when the Indianapolis 500 winner was almost always pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Indy-style racing — and not NASCAR’s Joey Logano — was still the greatest thing since sliced bread, Cale Yarborough skipped the 600-mile NASCAR race in Charlotte, North Carolina, three times to race at the Brickyard.

Bobby Allison did the same thing twice.

That’s how big the Indy 500 was.

The winner doesn’t get his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated these days, although Danica Patrick got on the cover by finishing fourth one year. But the Indy 500 still is a pretty big deal — especially this year, because when the gentlemen (and a female driver named Pippa Mann) start their engines Sunday, it will be for the 100th time.

More NASCAR drivers are talking about racing in the 500.

Las Vegan Kurt Busch last attempted Indy-Charlotte “Double Duty” in 2014. Busch drove smartly in the 500, finishing sixth for Michael Andretti en route to being named Rookie of the Year.

He gave Double Duty a good long look again this year before logistics and his elevated position in the Sprint Cup standings influenced him to concentrate on stock cars.

Other NASCAR regulars have expressed interest in running at Indianapolis in the not-too-distant future, starting with Busch’s brother, Kyle, the reigning Sprint Cup champion.

“We have to work out all those details and it’s certainly not going to happen this year. But maybe in some future years we’ll see what we can put together,” Busch said last month. “The sponsors, they’ve actually shown an interest in it.”

Here’s what other Cup drivers are saying about racing in the Indy 500:

* Kyle Larson: “I would love to. I was always a big fan growing up. To me, this is the biggest race in the world by far, so I would love to race it some day.”

* Kasey Kahne: “I thought it would be really awesome to run the 100th and be part of that. I’ve always wanted to do some IndyCar stuff. I worked on a couple of deals, but nothing really played out. Maybe in the future there still would be an opportunity to do something.”

* Brian Vickers (who was considered for a third car entered at Indy by Henderson’s Sam Schmidt) “I would love to race anything, quite honestly. The Indy 500 would be one of them. I would love to run Le Mans again. I would love to race sports cars. I’m open to all of those opportunities. Indy is one of them.”

So does the curiosity about trading places also exist on the other side of the pit wall?

It does for one Indy 500 veteran. Canadian James Hinchcliffe, Sam Schmidt’s lead driver who will start from pole position Sunday, went to Homestead, Florida, on a NASCAR reconnaissance mission last year.

“I planted some seeds and got the ball rolling,” Hinchcliffe said. “I would love to do all the (NASCAR) road courses but I need one foot in the door first.”

GREEN-WHITE-CHECKERED

* Dave Mirra, the iconic BMX racer and X Games champion who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in February, had CTE — chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease. Mirra, who was 41, drove in Global Rallycross events in Las Vegas. Neuropathologists said his condition was similar to football players and other athletes in contact sports who have suffered concussions.

* Las Vegan Aaron McMorran finished fourth in Saturday’s Lucas Oil Modified feature race on his his hometown track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. McMorran paid tribute to his friend and former Bullring racer Spencer Clark by running No. 23 and Clark’s graphics scheme on his car. Saturday marked the 10-year anniversary of Clark’s death in a highway accident in New Mexico. He had just broken into theNASCAR Busch Series at age 19 at the time of his death. Linny White of Colton, California, won the 75-lap modified race. Justin Johnson raced to another win in the 40-lap NASCAR Super Late Models feature.

* Dale Earnhardt Jr., on the confusing nature of Saturday’s NASCAR All-Star race won by Joey Logano: “This race reminds me of the first time I tried to fly a remote control helicopter. No idea what’s going on.” Tony Stewart left hobby pursuits out of his opinion. “This makes no (expletive) sense to me …” Added Ryan Newman: “We’re the only people I know that drop their pants around the ankles and then try to run.” The rules were tinkered with as they always are tinkered with — to provide a thrilling finish. Stewart gets the last word on whether NASCAR succeeded: “It’s the most screwed-up All-Star race I’ve ever been a part of.”

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ron Kantowski can be reached at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. His motor sports notebook runs on Friday. Follow him on Twitter: @ronkantowski