Katherine Legge is set for a busy stretch with Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen and a return to the Indianapolis 500 two weeks after. And the 45-year-old is stepping out of her comfort zone.
Legge will make her first NASCAR Cup start of the 2026 season in the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports. She qualified 38th for Sunday’s race, and after finishing at Watkins Glen, Legge will head straight to Indiana. Practice for the Indy 500 is scheduled for May 12.
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Ahead of the race, the British driver spoke to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass and shared her motivation for taking up the challenge.
“I think it was a different level of comfort getting back in the stock car on a road course. It was a good way to start doing some NASCAR races this year. And I think it makes for a big a month of May,” Katherine Legge said.
She will drive the No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports in partnership with A.J. Foyt Enterprises. This race will be her fifth time competing in the Indy 500. Legge will continue with e.l.f. Cosmetics is her main sponsor.
Legge’s car failed NASCAR inspection two times before the qualifying session on Saturday afternoon. NASCAR gave a penalty, and the team’s car chief was removed from the race, and they lost their pit stall choice.
The team fixed the problems and passed inspection on the third try. These issues limited her practice time, so she ran fewer laps.
“My endurance is pretty strong” – Katherine Legge on attempting ‘The Double’ in the future
Katherine Legge’s busy May schedule this year might lead to a busier stretch and potentially an attempt at ‘The Double.’ Only a couple of drivers, including Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart, have tried to race the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
But Legge shared that her sponsor, e.l.f. would likely support something like that, and that her body can handle hours in the car. Her only concern is staying fueled during such a long day.
“Only a few drivers have ever tried this challenge. Kyle Larson is one of the most recent names to attempt it. Just five drivers have raced both events in one day, and only Tony Stewart has completed all 1,100 miles.”I think my endurance is pretty strong. We train all year. … It becomes more of a challenge for not eating for that long for me because I’m always hungry. But I think I’ve done so much racing over longer periods of time that I hope that wouldn’t be an issue. I’m as fit as I’ve ever been. Probably fitter. I don’t know. Hopefully one day, I’ll get the opportunity to put that to the test,” Katherine Legge said.
Legge competed in seven races in the Cup Series last year. The Indy 500 return will be her first appearance in the race since 2024, when she finished 29th for Dale Coyne Racing.
Last year, she secured a 19th-place finish at the Chicago Street Race and a 17th-place result at the Brickyard 400.
Edited by Sashwat Deo
