▁an ▁evening / night ▁race . ▁The ▁ 4 : 3 0   p . m . ▁start ▁time ▁did ▁not ▁yet ▁allow ▁ade qu ate ▁time ▁for ▁a ▁compet itor ▁to ▁complete ▁both , ▁but ▁the ▁idea ▁was ▁plant ed , ▁and ▁subsequent ▁years , ▁the ▁start ▁time ▁for ▁the ▁ 6 0 0 ▁was ▁moved ▁later , ▁and ▁a ▁travel ▁window ▁would ▁open ▁up . ▁▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁Ind y Car ▁veter an ▁John ▁And rett i ▁switched ▁full - time ▁to ▁the ▁NAS C AR ▁W inst on ▁Cup ▁Series ▁starting ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁but ▁desired ▁to ▁also ▁comp ete ▁in ▁the ▁Ind y ▁ 5 0 0 . ▁And rett i ▁announced ▁that ▁he ▁would ▁become ▁the ▁first ▁driver ▁ever ▁to ▁attempt ▁to ▁drive ▁in ▁both ▁the ▁Ind y ▁ 5 0 0 ▁and ▁C oca - Col a ▁ 6 0 0 ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁day . ▁And rett i ▁successfully ▁qualified ▁for ▁both ▁events , ▁and ▁planned ▁a ▁detailed ▁travel ▁it iner ary . ▁On ▁race ▁day , ▁And rett i ▁got ▁off ▁to ▁a ▁good ▁start ▁early ▁on . ▁He ▁was ▁running ▁as ▁high ▁as ▁third ▁at ▁Indian apolis ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁race . ▁At ▁the ▁check ered ▁flag , ▁And rett i ▁finished ▁ 1 0 th ▁at ▁Ind y . ▁He ▁then ▁immediately ▁board ed ▁a ▁hel ic opter ▁to ▁the ▁air port . ▁He ▁fle w ▁to ▁Charlotte , ▁and ▁arrived ▁in ▁just ▁enough