Katherine Legge Makes History: First Woman to Attempt the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 Double

This weekend, IndyCar and NASCAR driver Katherine Legge will become the first woman to attempt "The Double"—racing in the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Only five drivers in history have tried to complete both races in one day, and just one has finished both. Legge's historic attempt comes at a time when women have become increasingly rare in top-level motorsports competitions.

What Is "The Double"?

Together, the two races add up to 1,100 miles in two different types of race cars—an IndyCar and a NASCAR—at tracks in two different states. After Legge competes in the Indy 500 (she's the only woman in the race this year), she will travel by golf cart, helicopter, plane, another helicopter, and finally another golf cart to reach Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina for the Coca-Cola 600 later that evening. The hectic trip is her only chance to rest between races.

The Physical Toll of Racing

"I don't think people realize how physical racing actually is. It's not like driving your road car," Legge explains. At a recent practice, her average heart rate was 140, peaking at 170. "It's the heat, the G-force, the fact that you don't have power steering, and you don't have much suspension. It's a lot to put your body through," she says.

Legge has dreamed of attempting The Double for years. This year, with support from sponsor e.l.f. Cosmetics, she finally got the chance. "I'd be crazy not to," she says.

Why Fewer Women Are in Top Motorsports

While Legge makes history, female participation at the sport's highest levels has sharply declined. In the Indy 500, women's representation once seemed to grow. Janet Guthrie became the first woman to race in the Indy 500 in 1977. From 2007 to 2009, three women competed each year, and from 2010 to 2013, that number rose to four, including Legge in 2012 and 2013.

Since 2022, however, Legge has been the only woman in the field, racing in 2023, 2024, and 2026. Similarly, no women other than Legge have competed in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2018. "There's nobody really on the IndyCar ladder at the moment, and that is bitterly disappointing to me," Legge says. "I would love to bring up the next generation, just like Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, and Sarah Fisher did for me."

Segregation and Sponsorship: Barriers for Women Drivers

Legge believes the main reason fewer women compete alongside men is the growing segregation of female drivers into women-only series. She points to F1 Academy, Formula 1's all-female development league. While Legge supports its mission, she thinks racing separately may leave women less prepared for top-level competition.

"I'm a firm believer that to be the best, you have to beat the best. So they need to race against the best, which at the moment tends to be male," she says.

The cars used in F1 Academy are less powerful and less physically demanding than those in Formula 2, IndyCar, Formula 1, and NASCAR's Cup Series. Legge warns that giving women less powerful cars sends the wrong message. "It's like saying, 'You can't do it with the big cars,'" she explains.

Sponsorship is another obstacle. "I think a lot of companies aren't willing to take chances on women in racing," Legge says. While sponsors invest in F1 Academy drivers, it's harder for women competing directly against men to get sponsorship. She credits e.l.f. Cosmetics for making her opportunity possible. "They are literally fueling my ability to race with the big boys, because there's no reason why I shouldn't," she says.

Why Legge's Double Attempt Matters

When asked about becoming the first woman to attempt The Double, Legge hopes it sends a message about pushing past limits. She says e.l.f. builds campaigns around empowerment and challenging stereotypes. Together, they reinforce the idea that "just because no woman has done it before doesn't mean you can't do it."

At the same time, Legge doesn't view herself only through the lens of gender. "I'm also a race car driver first," she says. "I'm just one of the very few who get the opportunity to do this."

As the first woman to attempt The Double, Legge has no female role models to guide her. Instead, she turned to Kyle Larson, who tried The Double in 2024 and 2025. Legge says Larson and his team have been a great resource, especially for managing the crazy logistics of racing two events in two states on the same day. The next woman who attempts this feat will have the option to seek advice from Legge.

How to Watch Legge's Historic Attempt

Both races will be held on Sunday, May 24. Legge will be easy to spot on the track—both of her cars are chrome-and-pink, designed to resemble her sponsor's lip oil stick packaging. Her attempt will hopefully inspire future generations of female drivers to take on tougher challenges.