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Katherine Legge crashes Indy 500, will start Coca-Cola 600.

5/24/2026

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Legge Crashes

Katherine Legge crashed on Lap 18 of the Indianapolis 500, ending her Double attempt.
The 45-year-old British driver hit the inside wall while avoiding Ryan Hunter-Reay’s spin, prompting a caution.
Legge and the other driver exited unaided, were cleared medically, and she said she was “gutted”.
She will fly to Charlotte to start the Coca-Cola 600, becoming the first woman and seventh driver to start both races.

Summary

Legge Switches Teams

Hunter Reay said his tire pressure and temperature skyrocketed, making the car loose and causing the spin that led to Legge’s crash.
Driver Legge will race with Live Fast Motorsports in the Coca-Cola 600, switching from HMD Motorsports/AJ Foyt Racing.
Exiting the Indy 500 early gives Legge a head-start to Charlotte with a fuel-saving plan for the NASCAR race.

History

Historical Context

Janet Guthrie broke the gender barrier in 1977 by becoming the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and later raced the 1978 Daytona 500, proving women could compete across open-wheel and stock-car series. Building on that legacy, Katherine Legge’s 2024 double-attempt for the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 echoes Guthrie’s crossover, joining the nine women who have ever qualified for Indy.

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Legge Crashes

Katherine Legge crashed on Lap 18 of the Indianapolis 500, ending her Double attempt.
The 45-year-old British driver hit the inside wall while avoiding Ryan Hunter-Reay’s spin, prompting a caution.
Legge and the other driver exited unaided, were cleared medically, and she said she was “gutted”.
She will fly to Charlotte to start the Coca-Cola 600, becoming the first woman and seventh driver to start both races.

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