Katherine Legge is aware of almost each transfer she makes is one other milestone in motorsports, however her focus is on outcomes and never the historical past books.
Within the late hours of Tuesday night time, it was revealed Legge is ready to aim the uncommon ‘Double’ by operating the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500 on the identical day – Sunday, Could 24. She was already set – and wrapped up the opening day of follow – for the Indy 500, however will now run the endurance crown jewel of the NASCAR Cup Sequence schedule with Dwell Quick Motorsports.
Legge, 45, would be the sixth particular person to aim the Memorial Day Weekend ‘Double’ and be part of the likes of John Andretti (1994), Robby Gordon (1997, 2000, 2002-04), Tony Stewart (1999, 2001), Kurt Busch (2014), Kyle Larson (2024-25). Though she is the primary girl to aim it, that history-making achievement isn’t on the forefront of her thoughts.
How Legge views the historical past she is making
Katherine Legge
Photograph by: Geoff Miller / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
“I do not wish to be the primary girl, as a result of on the finish of the day I all the time say I simply wish to be a race automotive driver,” Legge mentioned. “It would not matter whether or not I am black, white, feminine, male, no matter it could be, I believe in all probability, getting the chance to do that as a result of I am a feminine, so that doesn’t escape me, and I am very grateful for it.
“And naturally I wish to do them proud as a result of I do know that there shall be quite a lot of eyes on me.”
The British-born Legge would be the first to aim the 1,100-mile feat that isn’t from America, although.
“I believe any person mentioned I used to be the primary non-American to do it, and that is sort of cool, too,” Legge mentioned. “So I believe being the primary to do something is cool, being one among only a few who will get to aim it, even race at Indy, even race at Charlotte, after which do each on the identical day, wanting again in 10, 20 years’ time, I might be like, ‘Yeah, that was sort of unhealthy ass.’”
Legge, a soon-to-be five-time starter within the Indy 500 and four-time class race winner within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, has rapidly constructed up her NASCAR expertise over the previous couple of seasons. Since making her Cup Sequence debut final yr, she has compiled eight begins with a finest end of seventeenth (2025 Brickyard 400). So, remarkably, regardless of the sensation of suddenness with the announcement, it’s really been within the works for some time.
Excited, however apprehensive
Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen by way of Getty Photos
“Properly, it has been a few years within the making,” she mentioned. “I knew that in some unspecified time in the future in time it will be one thing that we checked out doing, however did not anticipate it being this yr. It is a very cool alternative that sort of got here up. Clearly, Indy was first, and when that domino fell, then there was quite a lot of speak about it and we thought, ‘Properly, why not?’ It could be the one alternative I get. It won’t be, however I would as nicely take it whereas the iron’s sizzling. And so it is a type of actually cool issues that not many individuals get to do. I am in a really fortunate place that I did the NASCAR races final yr to have the ability to qualify, to have the ability to participate in them. I am excited, I am additionally a bit bit apprehensive. It may be quite a lot of driving.”
However that’s additionally the place Legge’s IMSA expertise, particularly the endurance rounds, might show important.
“I actually hope so,” she mentioned. “I used to be enthusiastic about it and it is like doing a triple stint at Sebring after which ready a number of hours and getting again in and doing one other triple stint. Solely it is in all probability far more extreme than that.”
Though there are logistics to determine, such because the helicopter and airplane journey to navigate from Indianapolis to Charlotte, these particulars are “above my paygrade” and she or he’s extra centered on vitamin.
“However I am attempting to determine what I’ll eat as a result of I am frightened I’ll be hungry, of all of the issues,” Legge mentioned. “And the way I’ll keep hydrated and whether or not we want an IV on the way in which to Charlotte and issues like that.”
Katherine Legge, No. 78 Dwell Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
Uniquely, although, Legge, who grew to become the quickest girl to ever qualify for the Indy 500 in 2023 with a mean velocity of 231.07 mph has the prospect to lean on Larson, the two-time Cup Sequence champion and 2024 Indy 500 Rookie of the Yr, as a useful resource.
“I have been very lucky that Kyle Larson’s been wonderful and he is clearly acquired all of the expertise and is aware of what he is doing so he may give me all of the pointers,” she mentioned. “So I am in a fortunate place having him to lean on.”
As for what a profitable ‘Double’ appears to be like like for Legge…
“I am hoping to have end in Indy,” she mentioned. “Charlotte could be my first time there in a Cup automotive. I am nonetheless comparatively new on an oval, so I believe to complete that race could be a outcome.
“If I might end each of them, I believe we might have had a extremely good weekend.”
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