Katherine Legge Aims for Historic Indy 500–Coca-Cola 600 Double

Katherine Legge, a 45-year-old driver for A.J. Foyt Motorsports (Indy 500, car #11) and Live Fast Motorsports (Coca-Cola 600, car #78), announced she will try to compete in both events on the same day. Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 will determine the 33-car field, while the Coca-Cola 600 will field 40 cars from an entry list of 41 drivers. Legge’s participation would mark the first time a woman attempts the “double” in a single calendar day.

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Since 1994, five drivers have started both races in the same year. Tony Stewart is the only driver to finish in the top six of both events, achieving the feat in 2001. In 1976, Janet Guthrie failed to qualify for the Indy 500 but later raced in the World 600 (now the Coca-Cola 600), becoming the first woman to compete on a NASCAR superspeedway and, the following year, the first woman to qualify for the Indy 500. Kyle Larson most recently attempted the double; rain delayed the Indy 500 in 2024, preventing his start in the NASCAR race, and he crashed out of both events in 2025.

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Legge’s agency, BRANDed Management, confirmed the addition of the NASCAR race to her schedule. Legge has entered the Indianapolis 500 five times, with a best finish of 22nd in 2012 and a 29th place finish in 2023. Over the past two seasons she has started eight NASCAR Cup Series races, most recently finishing 35th at Watkins Glen. Live Fast Motorsports fields the No. 78 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup, while A.J. Foyt Motorsports fields the No. 11 Dallara-Honda in the IndyCar series.

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• 33 drivers compete for the Indy 500 field; Legge is one of the 33 entrants.

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• 40 cars start the Coca-Cola 600; Legge is one of 41 hopefuls.

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• Five drivers have completed the double since 1994.

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• Tony Stewart’s 2001 double remains the only top-six finish in both races.

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• Legge’s Indy 500 record: five entries, best 22nd (2012).

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• NASCAR Cup experience: eight starts, most recent 35th place.

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Legge emphasized that her primary goal is to be recognized as a race car driver rather than a gender milestone. She acknowledged that her opportunity may be linked to her being a woman but expressed gratitude for the chance. Legge described the double as a rare occasion that could be her only chance to attempt such a feat, noting that the idea emerged only after her Indy 500 entry was confirmed.

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• “I don't want to be like the first woman, because at the end of the day, I always say I just want to be a race car driver,” — Katherine Legge, driver

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• “It doesn't matter whether I'm Black, white, female, male, whatever it may be. I think I'm probably getting the opportunity to do this because I'm female, so that does not escape me and I'm very grateful for it.” — Katherine Legge

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• “It might be the only opportunity I get," she said.” — Katherine Legge

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• “It might not be, but I might as well take it while the iron is hot, and it's one of those really cool things not many people get to do.” — Katherine Legge

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If successful, Legge would become the first woman to complete the Indy 500–Coca-Cola 600 double, adding a visible milestone for female drivers in two of motorsport’s premier series. The attempt underscores ongoing efforts to broaden participation and may influence team decisions regarding multi-disciplinary entries.

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Legge’s Indy 500 qualifying runs are slated for early May, with the race itself on May 24. The Coca-Cola 600 starts later that afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both events’ final fields will be confirmed shortly before race day, leaving Legge’s double attempt contingent on qualifying outcomes and entry acceptance.

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