Katherine Legge preparing for historic run at 1100 Mile long double

Wednesday morning it was announced that Katherine Legge, a veteran of endurance racing and open-wheel racing, will attempt one of the most rigorous challenges in motorsports.

She will attempt the double by racing in both the NTT INDYCAR Series’ Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.

The 45-year-old from the United Kingdom will also become the first ever female racer to attempt the doubleheader and first driver not born in the United States to attempt the feat.

For the Indianapolis 500, Legge will pilot the #11 Chevrolet in an entry being fielded by A.J. Foyt Racing and HMD Motorsports. With 33 entrants and no bump day for the first time since 2020, Legge is guaranteed to make the race.

This will be her fifth start in the race and is hoping to beat her best finish in the race. A 22nd place run in her first start in 2012 for Dragon Racing.

Following the conclusion of the 500, Legge will then fly southeast from Indiana to North Carolina for NASCAR’s longest race of the season, the Coca-Cola 600.

Legge will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports owned by B.J. McLeod. Legge has never run a NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but does have a start there in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

She competed in last years race in the No.32 Chevrolet for Jordan Anderson Racing starting in 32nd. Unfortunately, she was caught up in a late race accident with J.J. Yeley and finished out of the race in 34th.

She is also no stranger to Live Fast competing in seven cup races in 2025 for the team. She scored two impressive top 20 runs finishing on the lead lap in both at the Chicago Street Course and at the Brickyard 400.

She also made her first start of the season last week for Live Fast at Watkins Glen International where she finished 35th, one lap down.

Legge will be sponsored by e.l.f. cosmetics, who have also sponsored Legge in her previous NASCAR and INDYCAR efforts the past two years.

There are some obstacles Legge will face in finishing the double though.

Out of 12 prior attempts at completing all 1100 miles of the double, only one attempt has successfully done so. Tony Stewart in 2001, when he finished sixth in the Indianapolis 500 and third in the Coca-Cola 600 both on the lead lap.

Weather could also pose a risk as Kyle Larson who attempted the double the last two years dealt with weather delays hurting his chances of completing the double.

In both 2024 and 2025, rain delayed the start of the Indianapolis 500 which resulted in Larson needing to stay at the track longer than intended. Justin Allgaier in 2024 had to start the Coca-Cola 600 for him as a result. Live Fast did not name a relief driver for Legge should this happen again.

On day one of Indianapolis 500 practice, Legge was the slowest of 33 cars on the grid for practice with a best time of 218 mph. But on day two, she improved her time up to a best of 220 mph.

Legge will go down in the history books as one of few to attempt one of the most challenging feats in motorsports joining Stewart, Larson, Robby Gordon, Kurt Busch, John Andretti, and Davy Jones in attempting the 1100 mile double.