Katherine Legge is aiming to become the first woman to complete the toughest task in motorsport
Katherine Legge will try to race her way into the history books later this month by becoming the first woman to complete the infamous NASCAR-IndyCar “Double.”
For those who don’t know, it’s when a driver competes in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Both events are held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.
Only five drivers have attempted “The Double,” which involves running 1,100 miles in one day. Tony Stewart is the only driver to finish all 1,100 miles, finishing sixth at Indy in 2001, and third at Charlotte.
Driver Katherine Legge signs autographs before the start of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., on March 9, 2025. (Darryl Webb/AP)
John Andretti, Robbie Gordon, Kurt Busch and, most recently, Kyle Larson are four other drivers who have tried it. Larson missed the start of the 2024 Coca-Cola 600 because the Indy 500 was delayed by rain. He missed out on both events last season.
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Katherine Legge made her NASCAR debut last season
Legge, 45, is no stranger to any series. He made his NASCAR Cup Series debut last season, finishing a season-best 17th at the Brickyard 400. Legge made his eighth World Cup start last weekend at Watkins Glen, finishing 35th. He finished 30th or better in six of the eight races.
This will be his fifth Indy 500, finishing 22nd in the 2012 race.
“It’s meticulously planned down to the minute,” Legge told USA Today. “I’m going to have to turn left a few times that day. I hope there are no weather problems. We’ll be all over the place.”
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Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson, both of England, crash in the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 23, 2023. (Kirk DeBrunner/AP)
Legge’s attempt at “The Double” comes 50 years after Janet Guthrie became the first woman to run in practice at Indy. He failed to qualify for that year’s event, but quickly turned his attention to the World 600, traveling to Charlotte and finishing 15th in the race.
The following year, she became the first woman to run in both the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500.
Danica Patrick, of course, is the most recent – and most successful – woman to compete in both races. Patrick finished third in the 2009 Indy 500, and also started on the pole in the 2013 Daytona 500.
Patrick retired after the 2018 Daytona 500 and was the last woman to compete in the Cup Series until Legge debuted last season. He did not attempt “The Double.”
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Danica Patrick entered her final race at the 2018 Indianapolis 500. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone waiting in the wings ready to take on that mantra,” Legge continued. “How many years have we got? There are a few girls in the Truck Series that I don’t think have what it takes to get there. We have to develop the next generation so I can hand the baton, so to speak.
“But unfortunately, there seems to be this big gap these days. And it’s on the IndyCar side, on the open wheel side and on the NASCAR side.”
