Katherine Legge adds Coca-Cola 600 to Indianapolis 500 entry

Katherine Legge will try to turn into the primary girl to full the “double” by racing within the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day.

Legge’s company, BRANDed Management, introduced that she would add the May 24 NASCAR race — competing within the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports — to her entry within the Indy 500 with AJ Foyt Motorsports’ No. 11 automotive.

But Legge, 45, additionally does not appear keen to overplay her position as both the primary girl or first non-American to take the time.

“I don’t want to be like the first woman, because at the end of the day, I always say I just want to be a race car driver,” she stated Wednesday. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m Black, white, female, male, whatever it may be. I think I’m probably getting the opportunity to do this because I’m female, so that doesn’t escape me and I’m very grateful for it.

“I believe being the primary to do something is cool. Being one of many only a few who will get to try to race at Indy and at Charlotte after which do each on the identical day, like trying again in 10, 20 years, like yeah.”

Legge is set to enter her fifth Indianapolis 500. Her best finish has been 22nd in 2012; she was 29th last year. She has appeared in eight NASCAR Cup races over the past two years and finished 35th last week at Watkins Glen.

She had been exploring the possibility of trying for the double for the past couple of years, she said.

“I knew that in some unspecified time in the future it will be one thing we checked out doing, however I did not anticipate it being this yr,” she said. “I believe it is only a very cool alternative that type of got here up. Obviously, Indianapolis was first, and when that domino fell, there was numerous speak about it and we thought, why not?”

But nothing is certain. While Legge is one of 33 drivers trying to make the 33-car field in Indy (qualifying will focus on the pole), she will be one of 41 attempting to make the 40-car Coca-Cola 600 field. Yet she is willing to take her chance on making history.

“It could be the one alternative I get,” she said. “It won’t be, however I’d as effectively take it whereas the iron is scorching, and it is a kind of actually cool issues not many individuals get to do.”

Five drivers have competed in both races since 1994, with Tony Stewart the only one to complete all 1,100 miles while finishing in the top six in both races in 2001.

In 1976, Janet Guthrie attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 but failed. She then traveled to Charlotte and made her Cup Series debut in the World 600, which is now the Coca-Cola 600, becoming the first woman to compete on a NASCAR superspeedway. She would go on the next year to become the first woman to qualify and race in the Indy 500.

Kyle Larson was the latest driver to try the double. He missed out on beginning the NASCAR race in 2024 after the Indy 500 was delayed by rain then crashed out of each races in 2025.

NASCAR modified its pointers on playoff waivers earlier than the 2025 season, making it harder for a full-time driver to try the Indianapolis 500 in case they missed making it to the Coca-Cola 600.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.