KATHERINE LEGGE First Woman To Attempt The Indy 500/NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 Double

May 13, 2026

• KATHERINE LEGGE becomes first woman attempting The Double on May 24, driving No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports at Indy 500 and No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports at Charlotte with e.l.f. Cosmetics sponsorship.
• The 45-year-old holds fastest qualifying record by a woman at Indy 500, competing in her fifth 500 and ninth Cup race. Best finishes: 22nd at Indy, 17th in Cup at 2025 Brickyard 400.
• LEGGE joins elite group of just five drivers attempting The Double—covering 1,100+ miles in one day. Tony Stewart’s 2001 sixth-place Indy, third-place Charlotte remains benchmark performance for the feat.
• Historic attempt comes 50 years after JANET GUTHRIE broke barriers as first woman competing at Charlotte superspeedway in 1975, then first woman in Indy 500 and Daytona 500 in 1977.
• LEGGE voices concern about pipeline gap for women drivers, noting seven-year drought before her Cup debut. Cites 19-year-old LANIE BUICE as promising ARCA talent, four-five years from Cup readiness.

chevrolet, indianapolis 500, nascar cup series