Legge’s Indy 500 Bid Ends In Lap 19 Crash Before Charlotte Start

Legge's Indy 500 Bid Ends In Lap 19 Crash Before Charlotte Start

Katherine Legge’s attempt to complete the Memorial Day Double – racing the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day – was dealt an early blow when a Lap 19 incident at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ended her IndyCar race. Legge, driving the No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports in an alliance with A.J. Foyt Racing, had started from 26th on the grid when Ryan Hunter-Reay spun in Turn 2. Attempting to avoid him, Legge made contact with Hunter-Reay’s car, and both drivers were evaluated and released from the infield medical center.

Legge is the first woman to attempt The Double, the informal challenge of completing both the 500-mile IndyCar race in Indianapolis and the 600-mile NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same afternoon and evening. The logistical demands are considerable: drivers must be airlifted between the two venues within a narrow window to make the Charlotte start. Legge’s early exit removed the transportation pressure, but also left her with fewer than 20 laps of IndyCar racing before transitioning to NASCAR competition.

Speaking to reporters after her release from the medical center, Legge described being blinded by tire smoke as Hunter-Reay’s car slid back up the track toward her. “I just didn’t make it,” she said. She characterized the incident as one beyond her control, adding that she chose the high side to avoid him only for his car to reverse direction. Tony Stewart remains the only driver to have completed all 1,100 combined miles of The Double in a single day; five drivers in total have attempted the feat, with Kyle Larson’s most recent efforts, in 2024 and 2025, both falling short.

Legge arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway to take her place in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, starting 37th for the Coca-Cola 600. Early in the race’s second stage she was running 35th and one lap off the leaders’ pace, giving her a significant gap to close if she is to improve on her grid position before the checkered flag.