Katherine Legge is aware of practically 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 evening, . 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.
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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 try it, that history-making achievement isn’t on the forefront of her thoughts.
How Legge views the historical past she is makingKatherine Legge
Katherine Legge
“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 automobile driver,” Legge stated. “It does 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.
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“And naturally I wish to do them proud as a result of I do know that there will probably be a number of eyes on me.”
The British-born Legge would be the first to try the 1,100-mile feat that isn’t from America, although.
“I believe someone stated I used to be the primary non-American to do it, and that is sort of cool, too,” Legge stated. “So I believe being the primary to do something is cool, being one in every of only a few who will get to try 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 dangerous ass.’”
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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 12 months, she has compiled eight begins with a greatest end of seventeenth (2025 Brickyard 400). So, remarkably, regardless of the sensation of suddenness with the announcement, it’s truly been within the works for some time.
Excited, however apprehensive Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet
“Nicely, it has been a few years within the making,” she stated. “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 12 months. It is a very cool alternative that sort of got here up. Clearly, Indy was first, and when that domino fell, then there was a number of speak about it and we thought, ‘Nicely, why not?’ It could be the one alternative I get. It may not 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 12 months to have the ability to qualify, to have the ability to participate in them. I am excited, I am additionally a little bit bit apprehensive. It’ll be a number of driving.”
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However that’s additionally the place Legge’s IMSA expertise, particularly the endurance rounds, might show vital.
“I actually hope so,” she stated. “I used to be fascinated with it and it is like doing a triple stint at Sebring after which ready just a few 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 trip to navigate from Indianapolis to Charlotte, these particulars are “above my paygrade” and he or she’s extra targeted on diet.
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“However I am making an attempt to determine what I will eat as a result of I am frightened I will be hungry, of all of the issues,” Legge stated. “And the way I will keep hydrated and whether or not we’d like an IV on the way in which to Charlotte and issues like that.”
Katherine Legge, No. 78 Dwell Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, No. 78 Dwell Quick Motorsports Chevrolet
Uniquely, although, Legge, who grew to become the quickest girl to ever qualify for the Indy 500 in 2023 with a mean pace of 231.07 mph has the possibility to lean on Larson, the two-time Cup Sequence champion and 2024 Indy 500 Rookie of the 12 months, as a useful resource.
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“I have been very lucky that Kyle Larson’s been superb and he is clearly received all of the expertise and is aware of what he is doing so he may give me all of the pointers,” she stated. “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 an excellent end in Indy,” she stated. “Charlotte can be my first time there in a Cup automobile. I am nonetheless comparatively new on an oval, so I believe to complete that race can be a outcome.
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“If I might end each of them, I believe we’d have had a very good weekend.”
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