Katherine Legge attempts historic Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR double
Katherine Legge will become the first woman to attempt American motorsport’s famous “double” by racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
The 45-year-old’s agency announced on Wednesday that she will pilot the number 78 car for Live Fast Motorsports in the 600-mile stock car event on 24 May.
This gruelling evening race will immediately follow her scheduled appearance in the Indy 500, where she is entered to drive A.J. Foyt Motorsports’ number 11 car.
Endurance and historic precedent
Only five drivers have ever competed in both prestigious events on the same day since the modern double-header concept began in 1994.
“It requires a level of endurance and precision that very few in history have pursued,” Legge told USA Today.
“I don’t know whether that makes me crazy or not for wanting to do it.”
Breaking new ground
The veteran racer views this immense challenge as an opportunity to inspire others and break new barriers in the sport.
“It’s another groundbreaking thing that I can showcase to the world really that, if you set your mind to things, you can do anything,” she added.
She is currently preparing for her fifth start at the famous Brickyard, hoping to improve upon her career-best 22nd-place finish secured in 2012.
Recent years have seen the British driver expand her repertoire into stock cars, making eight NASCAR Cup Series appearances over the past two seasons.
Following famous footsteps
Tony Stewart remains the benchmark for the mammoth double-header, standing as the only competitor to complete all 1,100 racing miles.
Stewart remarkably achieved top-six finishes in both demanding races during his 2001 campaign.
Kyle Larson was the most recent driver to attempt the feat, though severe weather delays in Indianapolis ruined his 2024 bid before crashes ended his 2025 campaign.
Recent NASCAR regulation changes regarding playoff waivers have made the double increasingly difficult for full-time drivers, creating a unique window for specialists to tackle the historic challenge.