By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service
SPEEDWAY, Ind. – The idea of competing in racing’s iconic Memorial Day Double – the Indianapolis 500 followed by NASCAR’s celebrated Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway – is both daunting and enticing; equal parts mentally and physically demanding. But the reward, a rare and deserved sense of achievement.
Logistical challenges, weather forecasts and all, 45-year-old British racer Katherine Legge is ready to give “The Double” a proper go this Sunday. Her schedule preparing has been as hectic off the track as behind the wheel. And after the final Indy 500 practice Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, she conceded, “do I have time to think?”
Legge has spent much of this week doing media interviews and making appearances on behalf of her sponsor e.l.f. Cosmetics around the country in advance of her ambitious quest to join Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson and the late John Andretti as the only drivers to run both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s 600-miler on the same day.
The hard work behind the scenes is done – complete with contingency plans for rain delays as the weather forecasts remain “iffy” for the Midwest on Sunday. At this point, Legge must rely on the hard work of her HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing team to prepare her No. 11 Chevrolet for Indy and the Live Fast Motorsports team, who is fielding the No. 78 Chevrolet for Charlotte.
Despite only announcing the formal plans for this historic run two weeks ago, Legge turned in a solid qualifying run and will start her fifth Indianapolis from the ninth row, her Chevrolet holding the 26th position on the 33-car grid.
True to her character and heart, Legge opened her only press conference of the race weekend not talking about her car or her expectations but instead paying respect to Kyle Busch, 41, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who passed away Thursday.
“I am devastated for [Busch’s wife Samantha] Sam and the kids,” Legge said. “You know, he and Samantha were two of the nicest people to me, welcoming me to the series. … they took the time to get to know me and give me some help and advice, and I would classify them as friends now.
“It’s desperately sad. . …honestly, racing has lost one of the greatest drivers, in my opinion, of all time.”
Even carrying such a heavy heart, Legge must focus forward to competing in America’s biggest single day race challenge. Perspective and preparation have been the key to her week both on and off the track. And perhaps, now, never so important.
As with those talented drivers who attempted The Double before her, Legge has proven to be a versatile driver during her two-decades career, competing in sports cars, IndyCars and stock cars.
Although the bid to race at both Indy and Charlotte has long been a goal of hers, the logistics and go-ahead only came together two weeks ago, a short span compared to those drivers that have done this previously. Yet, Legge conceded, that may present a slight upside.
“With more time, you probably overanalyze every possible scenario, instead we’re in execution mode,” she explained. “It’s just been, ‘Okay, what’s the next problem we solve?’ And honestly, that mentality probably helps when you’re attempting something this chaotic.”
Legge’s NASCAR team owners, B.J. McLeod and his wife Jessica, were both trackside Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway watching Carb Day final practice and will be at Indy for the start of the 500. Live Fast Motorsports is doing a sponsorship “Double” of its own – with signage on both sides of the IndyCar’s nose piece as well as fielding Legge’s NASCAR Cup Series Camaro.
“I definitely am enjoying this opportunity to go up there and be able to be a part of it,” McLeod said. “We’re excited to be there supporting her on that side and I’m there for her, not from a knowledge standpoint – since I know nothing about an IndyCar – but anything she needs we’re there to support her.
“And obviously from the Cup side I’m very involved to make sure she has what she needs to have a successful night and we’re looking forward to making that happen as well.”
Even with all the meticulous planning, the effort will require some good weather fortune. Legge planned to be in Charlotte Saturday afternoon for the brief Coca-Cola 600 practice and qualifying sessions. She has only eight previous NASCAR Cup Series starts – one this year – and has never competed on the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval previously, so that track time is very valuable.
A reserve driver will start the Live Fast Motorsports car at Charlotte should the Indy race delay her trip.
“I think the advantage for me is adaptability,” Legge said. “My entire career has been built around jumping between disciplines, learning quickly, and being comfortable in uncomfortable situations. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m relying on this weekend.”
Certainly, the support is there and Legge said she’s received well wishes from not only drivers such as Larson and Stewart, who have raced The Double, but also from competitors she has shared grids with for years.
“I think there’s a shared understanding within motorsports of how difficult and rare this challenge really is,” Legge said. “That’s been very humbling because drivers understand better than anyone what goes into even attempting the crazy things we sign ourselves up for.
“Everybody’s working incredibly hard,” she added, “And I have to remember how lucky I am and how grateful I am to be here, because I am.”
