Katherine Legge to Attempt 1,100-Mile Double on May 24 as First Woman
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 12
Katherine Legge to Attempt 1,100-Mile Double on May 24 as First Woman
13 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 12
May 24 could make Katherine Legge the first woman to race both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in one day, a feat only five drivers have previously attempted.
45-year-old Legge said the plan took years to build because she needed NASCAR licensing, the right teams and sponsor backing; e.l.f. Cosmetics will back both entries.
Legge is set to drive the No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing at Indy and the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports at Charlotte, pending qualification for both races.
The schedule leaves little margin: the Indy 500 starts at 12:45 p.m. ET, Charlotte at 6 p.m., requiring helicopter and plane transfers, in-flight hydration and a backup driver if delays hit.
Her attempt comes 50 years after Janet Guthrie broke barriers in Indy and NASCAR, and Legge said she hopes the run helps address a thin pipeline of women nearing top-level U.S. motorsports.
Will a cosmetics sponsorship truly pave the way for more female drivers, or is it a one-off marketing triumph?
At 45, can Legge physically conquer the 1,100-mile 'Double' that only one man has ever completed?
Katherine Legge’s Historic 2026 Double: The First Woman and Non-American to Attempt Both the Indy 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in One Day
Overview
On May 24, 2026, Katherine Legge will make motorsport history by attempting the 'Double'—competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. As the first woman and first non-American to take on this challenge, Legge will drive the No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing at Indy, then race the No. 78 Chevrolet Camaro for Live Fast Motorsports in Charlotte. Supported by e.l.f. Cosmetics, her ambitious effort highlights her determination and extensive racing background, marking a significant milestone for diversity and representation in racing.