Katherine Legge will become the sixth driver to attempt the monumental task of racing in IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
The announcement came on the same day as the first official practice session for this year’s Indy 500, in which she is driving the #11 AJ Foyt Racing / HMD Motorsports entry.
In addition to duties in Indianapolis, Legge will also drive the #78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet in Charlotte, NC in just over a week’s time.
Assuming logistics and weather cooperate, she will attempt to complete 1,100 miles of racing in the same day.
“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 yourse.l.f., taking risks, and trying to do something unique. I am so incredibly grateful to e.l.f. Cosmetics for believing in what this moment represents and for building a community around it.”
Legge is the first female driver to attempt The Double, and only the sixth driver overall to be in a position to try both races in the same year.
John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, and Kyle Larson have each completed the impressive feat in years past.
Of those, Stewart is the only one to have raced all 1,100 miles, finishing on the lead lap in both events and successfully completed all 600 laps in 2001.
Legge, at 45 years old, will be the oldest person to take on the difficult task.
Logistics are one of the most difficult parts of the attempt, with multiple flights back and forth across the country necessary to make the tight timetable.
If she is able to compete in both races, this will mark her fifth Indy 500 start and her ninth NASCAR Cup Series start.
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