Katherine Legge is on the cusp of making history as the first woman to attempt the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double this year after confirming entry in both events.
Legge has secured a last-minute entry for the 67th NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 scheduled for Sunday, May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet.
The 45-year-old British driver is already confirmed to race at the 110th Indianapolis 500 on the same day, behind the wheel of the No. 11 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet in partnership with HMD Motorsports.
The ambitious endeavor dubbed “The Double” features 1,100 miles of racing across two iconic ovals separated by over 575 miles, with tight schedules and potential weather delays adding to the challenge.
Legge‘s announcement came hot on the heels of Indy 500 practice Day 1, positioning her as a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated challenge first pioneered by John Andretti in 1994.
“Very few drivers ever get the opportunity to attempt ‘The Double,’ and I do not take that opportunity lightly,” Legge said. “This challenge is about pushing through perceived limits, betting on yourself, taking risks and trying to do something unique.
“I don’t want to be the first woman to attempt the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double, because at the end of the day I always say I just want to be a race car driver.
“It doesn’t matter whether I’m black, white, female, male, whatever it may be, I think probably, getting the opportunity to do this because I’m a female, so that does not escape me, and I’m very grateful for it.”
Complete 2026 Indianapolis 500 schedule: Qualifying, Practice, Race times and TV
Full 2026 Indianapolis 500 entry list: 33 cars, 13 teams confirmed
Who is Katherine Legge?
Born on July 12, 1980, in Guildford, England, Katherine Legge has built a storied career spanning multiple disciplines, establishing herself as one of the most versatile and resilient racers in the sport.
From her early days in karting and British Formula Ford to breaking barriers in open-wheel racing, Legge became the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America and holds the distinction of being the fastest woman to ever qualify for the Indianapolis 500, with a one-lap record of 231.627 mph and a four-lap average of 231.070 mph set in preparation for recent outings.
Her professional tally includes three championships, six race victories and 15 podiums, achievements accrued across IndyCar, NASCAR Xfinity Series, sports cars and international endurance events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Le Mans.
Legge’s tenacity shines through her five prior Indy 500 starts—2012, 2013, 2023, 2024 and now 2026—where her best finish was an impressive 12th in 2012, and she stood as the only female entrant in the field last year, finishing 29th despite mechanical challenges.
Venturing into NASCAR, Legge has prior experience that bolsters her credentials for the double attempt, having competed in five Xfinity Series events, including stints at Road America, Richmond Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s road course in 2021 and 2022.
Her recent Cup Series race debut last weekend at Watkins Glen further demonstrates her adaptability to stock car racing, where she expressed a desire to run more events and integrate deeper into the series.
Teaming up with Live Fast Motorsports for the Coca-Cola 600 marks a strategic pivot, backed by sponsor e.l.f. Cosmetics, which will adorn both her IndyCar and NASCAR entries.
At 45, Legge will also become the oldest driver to tackle the double, surpassing previous attempts by younger counterparts, and the first non-American, adding layers of pioneering significance to her bid.
Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is the most recent driver to attempt the feat in 2025, but ended in disappointment as he failed to finish either race due to rain and wrecks.
Tony Stewart is the only driver who has actually completed the Double back in 2001 where he finished 6th at Indy and 4th at Charlotte. Others include Davy Jones (1995), Robby Gordon (1997-2004) and Kurt Busch (2014).
