INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 18: Katherine Legge of United Kingdom 51 driving for Dale Coyne Racing on pit lane during qualifications for the NTT IndyCar, Indy Car, IRL, USA Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying on May 18, 2024 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 18 NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon051824076
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 18: Katherine Legge of United Kingdom 51 driving for Dale Coyne Racing on pit lane during qualifications for the NTT IndyCar, Indy Car, IRL, USA Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying on May 18, 2024 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire AUTO: MAY 18 NTT IndyCar Series Indianapolis 500 Qualifying EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon051824076
Apr 29, 2026, 10:30 AM CUT
Katherine Legge Returns as Only Woman in 2026 Indy 500 Field
The 33rd and final entry for the greatest spectacle in racing has been confirmed. Katherine Legge will return to the Indy 500 this year with HMD Motorsports and AJ Foyt Racing.
Legge, who will drive the #11 Chevrolet, will have e.l.f Cosmetics continuing as her primary sponsor. The 45-year-old British driver will be the only female driver at the Indy 500 in 2026.
Returning to the 500 for the first time since 2024, Legge will be making her fifth start. Talking about the milestone, she said, “We worked incredibly hard to be back at this year’s Indianapolis 500, and I don’t take a single moment of it for granted... I’m beyond grateful to e.l.f. Cosmetics for believing that women deserve to take up space in every arena, including this one.”
Legge's first race at Indianapolis was way back in 2012 with Dragon Racing, where she finished 22nd after starting 30th. Since then, she appeared in 2013 with Schmidt Peterson, Rahal Letterman Lanigan in 2023, and in 2024 she raced for Dale Coyne Racing.
Speaking on how it feels being back at the legendary race, Legge said, “It honestly feels like Christmas being back at the 500. Every time I return, I gain a deeper appreciation for what it takes - not just to compete here, but to earn the opportunity to be here in the first place.”
She thanked the AJ Foyt Racing organization, HMD, Chevrolet, IndyCar, and her team, BRANDed Management. Legge said, “Thank you for fighting tirelessly to make this possible.”
Historical Significance of Legge AJ Foyt Link Up
AJ Foyt has long been a brand that provides drivers with opportunities, giving them a platform to express themselves. Legge's partnership with AJ Foyt and HMD has roots dating back nearly 50 years.
Legge follows in the footsteps of trailblazer Janet Guthrie, who was the first woman to attempt to qualify for the Indy 500 way back in 1976. Guthrie created history by becoming the first woman to qualify for both the Indy and Daytona 500s.
Guthrie fought for her place at Indianapolis and faced skepticism and scrutiny before AJ Foyt allowed her to test one of his backup cars. The following year, when AJ Foyt won his record 4th 500, Guthrie became the first woman to qualify and start an Indy 500 race.
Legge, a renowned driver herself, brings enough pedigree to the grid.
Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!
Written by
Debrup Chaudhuri
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar