Katherine Legge back at Indy 500 with Dale Coyne Racing

Unfinished business: British driver Katherine Legge will be back at the 108th edition of the biggest race in the US in a Dale Coyne Racing entry, with beauty brand e.l.f. as primary sponsor.

Photo by IndyCar.com

In the past couple of years, the Indy 500 suffered from a lack of female entries: in 2020, we witnessed the first year with no female participation for the first time in 20 years – and again there were no women on the 2022 starting grid. In 2023, Katherine Legge was back ten year after her previous start in one of the biggest races in America.

Legge went on to brilliantly secure her place on the grid, out-qualifying all her teammates and becoming the fastest woman in Indianapolis' history, clocking a fastest lap time of 231.596 Mph.

Her race saw an early end, and Legge has unfinished business at the Racing Capital of the World: she is in fact set to join the 108th edition of the Indy 500 with Dale Coyne Racing with RWR and the primary sponsorship from e.l.f.

“I’m honored to be back at the ‘500’ to represent such a groundbreaking and historic effort put forward by e.l.f." – Legge said. "It is truly changing the face of motorsports by lifting women up and challenging norms. Janet Guthrie set the stage for this type of moment back in the ‘70s, and I’m honored to carry it forward with Dale Coyne Racing with RWR this year."

Katherine is likely one of the most popular and influential figures in women's motorsport – a driver that has extensive experience spanning from single-seaters to prototypes and GT vehicles. She famously drove the Minardi F1 car in 2005, becoming one of the few women to have tested F1 machinery, before competing at the highest levels of world's motor racing: her resumé includes Champ Car, IndyCar, IMSA, DTM, Formula E.

Legge has also raced in the Jaguar iPace eTrophy in 2018/2019, scoring a pole position, a victory and three podiums out of ten races. In Indycar, Legge has contested a part-time campaign in 2012 with Dragon Racing and has a second Indy500 start to her name in 2013, in a Schmidt Peterson entry; before, she had raced full time in Champ Car, where she recorded several top ten finishes - and two P6 as personal best results.

In May, Katherine will attempt to qualify for her fourth Indy500 entry and will be supported in her quest by Dale Coyne Racing with RWR.

“We’re pleased to welcome Katherine back to our team after all these years. She’s had a good career since she first drove for us in 2007, and we can’t wait to start working with her again for this year’s Indianapolis 500", commented team owner Dale Coyne. "We’re also excited to be part of this historic partnership with e.l.f. at the Indy 500. We look forward to working with them and making them proud in May.”

She will be sponsored by beauty company e.l.f. after they already partnered for the 2023 Indy500 entry and will now continue their work with the British racing driver. e.l.f. Cosmetics is a clean, vegan, cruelty free and fair trade certified company making the best of beauty accessible while setting benchmarks with new digital platforms as one of the first online beauty brands. It represents the latest beauty brand in the last few months to be associated with motor racing, and the first one at the Indy 500 – highlighting a promising expansion of the sport's target audience.

“Katherine is a bold disruptor with a kind heart,” Kory Marchisotto, chief marketing officer from e.l.f. Beauty said. “She is a force driven by positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. She takes to the track motivated to pave the way for future drivers who might not currently see themselves behind the wheel at big races. Her presence is helping to shape the future culture of racing. We are proud to sponsor Katherine as a beacon of limitless possibilities.” – concluded Marchisotto.

The 108th running of the Indy500 will take place on the 26th May while the qualifying will take place from the 18th to 19th May.

Photo by Penske Entertainment: Doug Mathews