Sometimes the ending of the story isn’t the point. Sometimes the point is about the journey to get to the end, and perhaps, the madness of it all.
It’s a story Katherine Legge knows well, and one she will be adding a new chapter to in the coming weeks.
Legge will become the next racer to attempt one of motorsports’ rarest and most punishing achievements, competing in the two biggest races in America on the same day during Memorial Day weekend. On Sunday, May 24, the 45-year-old will attempt to compete in the Indianapolis 500 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway before hustling to Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 later that evening.
Five drivers have attempted the feat before her, a challenge commonly known as “The Double.” But there are a few important differences this time around. Legge will become the first woman, and also the first foreign-born driver, to attempt the grueling 1,100-mile marathon.
Make no mistake, this is not merely a matter of driving two racecars. It is more akin to trying to sprint two marathons while strapped inside machines specifically engineered to turn human muscles into soup. The Indianapolis 500 alone is mentally exhausting. The Coca-Cola 600 is NASCAR’s longest race, typically ending sometime around the point where most rational people are asleep on their couch with a half-eaten pizza nearby.
As with most of her racing endeavors in the last four years, the backing for this latest adventure will come from e.l.f. Cosmetics, a brand from e.l.f. Beauty.
“At e.l.f., we believe culture moves forward when more women are given the opportunity to own their stories, break barriers and redefine what is possible,” said Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Beauty. “Katherine attempting ‘The Double’ is a reflection of what empowering.legendary.females. looks like in action – backing women who push boundaries and inspire the next generation to dream even bigger.”
Legge has made 11 starts in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts series and 8 in the top tier Cup series, the most recent coming last week at Watkins Glen. She has 19 starts in the IndyCar series and will be making her fifth start in the Indy 500, driving the No. 11 HMD Motorsports/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. While not officially confirmed her most recent NASCAR entries have come with Live Fast Motorsports.
She has also competed in such varied racing disciplines as the IMSA sports car series, DTM, and even the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. And while she has scored wins, most notably four in the GTD class in IMSA, her eclectic racing résumé isn’t exactly stacked with championships or endless trophy photos. But perhaps that misses the point entirely. Motorsport history tends to remember the people willing to attempt the ridiculous almost as much as the people who conquered it.
Of the five drivers who have attempted “The Double,” only Tony Stewart, the 1997 IndyCar Series champion and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, completed all 1,100 miles. Even then, it took Stewart two attempts before finally accomplishing the feat in 2001.
Now it’s Legge’s turn to try, carrying not only the expectations that come with such a challenge, but also the spotlight of a major sponsor eager to align itself with a driver willing to attempt something bordering on heroic insanity. Whether she completes all 1,100 miles or not, simply rolling onto both grids places her in a very exclusive club — one built as much on courage and stubbornness as raw speed.
“Very few drivers ever get the opportunity to attempt ‘The Double,’ and I do not take that opportunity lightly,” said Legge. “This challenge is about pushing through perceived limits, betting on yourse.l.f., taking risks and trying to do something unique. I am so incredibly grateful to e.l.f. for believing in what this moment represents and for building a community around it.”