What is 'The Double'? Katherine Legge attempts to join elite group in auto racing

Katherine Legge will attempt "The Double" this weekend at the 2026 Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, and not only because she wants to make history. She's aware no female has tried to finish both races on the same day before, but that distinction has been less motivating than simply being presented with an opportunity so few have before.

"It’s an exciting time," Legge told USA TODAY Sports recently. "It’s another groundbreaking thing that I can showcase to the world really that, if you set your mind to things, you can do anything, and you can do things that maybe you never even dreamt of before."

There have been several who wanted to be like Legge, but fell short of pulling it off. They couldn't qualify or weather delayed the precise planning necessary to make the logistics work, or they ran into mechanical problems or a wreck during one of the races.

This wasn't even possible until 1992 when Charlotte Motor Speedway installed lights and the Coca-Cola 600 became NASCAR's first annual night race. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is the most recent driver to attempt "The Double" last year, but failed to finish either the Indianapolis 500 or the Coca-Cola 600 in 2025 due to wrecks.

Legge, a 45-year-old from England, will be making her 20th career IndyCar appearance, and fifth career start in the Indianapolis 500, on Sunday afternoon. She made her NASCAR Cup Series debut last year as the first woman since Danica Patrick to race on NASCAR's top circuit.

Here's everything to know about Legge's attempt at "The Double" at the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 over Memorial Day weekend:

What is 'The Double' at Indianapolis 500, Coca-Cola 600?

"The Double" is the name given for the rare accomplishment of completing the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day over Memorial Day weekend. The Indianapolis 500 starts at 12:45 p.m. ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Coca-Cola 600 is set to begin at 6 p.m. ET at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The feat involves a driver completing 1,100 miles with little recovery time between the two races. Only five other drivers have attempted it before – John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, Kurt Busch and Larson. Legge will be the oldest driver to attempt "The Double" and the first non-American-born driver to do it. She will be sponsored by e.l.f. Cosmetics in both races.

"I don’t think of it as this huge thing I’m doing as a woman, I’ve always thought of myself as just a race car driver," Legge told NASCAR.com recently. "I had considered putting it off a year to get more NASCAR experience, and I hadn’t been in IndyCar in a while, but opportunities like this don’t necessarily come around ‘next year’ so if you’re going to do it, you need to do it."

Katherine Legge Indianapolis 500 history

Legge will be making fifth career start in the Indianapolis 500, with a career-best 22nd-place finish in her debut in 2012. She most recently raced at the Indy 500 in 2024. She finished in 27th in qualifying for the 2026 race, which features a 33-car field. Legge will compete in the Indy 500 in the No. 11 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing.

Katherine Legge NASCAR history

The Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night will be Legge's ninth race on the NASCAR Cup Series after making her debut last year. Her best finish in eight NASCAR Cup Series races over the past two years was 17th at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She finished 35th earlier this month at Watkins Glen in her first NASCAR Cup Series race of the 2026 season.

This will be Legge's first NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but she also has 12 career appearances on the Xfinity Series. Her experience includes the 2025 Xfinity Series at Charlotte race in which Legge finished in 34th place.

Drivers who attempted 'The Double,' how they fared

Here's a list of drivers who previously attempted "The Double" of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day and how they performed.

• John Andretti (1994): 10th at Indianapolis 500; did not finish Coca-Cola 600
• Tony Stewart (1999): 9th at Indianapolis 500; 4th at Coca-Cola 600
• Robby Gordon (2000): 6th at Indianapolis 500; 35th at Coca-Cola 600 (took over mid-race)
• Tony Stewart (2001): 6th at Indianapolis 500; 3rd at Coca-Cola 600
• Robby Gordon (2002): 8th at Indianapolis 500; 16th at Coca-Cola 600
• Robby Gordon (2003): Did not finish Indianapolis 500; 17th at Coca-Cola 600 (rain-shortened)
• Robby Gordon (2004): Did not finish Indianapolis 500; 20th at Coca-Cola 600
• Kurt Busch (2014): 6th at Indianapolis 500; did not finish Coca-Cola 600
• Kyle Larson (2024): 18th at Indianapolis 500; did not race Coca-Cola 600 (weather)
• Kyle Larson (2025) – Did not finish Indianapolis 500; did not finish Coca-Cola 600