Katherine Legge will attempt to qualify for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in a Honda-powered entry fielded by Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, with primary sponsorship from beauty brand e.l.f.
e.l.f. is believed to be the first beauty brand to serve as a primary sponsor for an entry in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” as Legge will drive the No. 51 e.l.f. Honda on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She will attempt to make her fourth Indy 500 start.
“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. “e.l.f. 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.
“When I was 9 years old, I decided I wanted to be a race car driver, and I never would have dreamed a beauty brand would one day be my primary sponsor in the Indy 500. Together with DCR, Honda and e.l.f., we will truly empower women who are breaking barriers, pushing boundaries and testing the limits by giving them the confidence and a path toward realizing their dreams, whatever they may be.”
Since 2004, e.l.f. Cosmetics has made the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip and face. It makes high-quality, prestige-inspired cosmetics and skin care products at an extraordinary value and is proud to be e.l.f. clean, vegan, cruelty free and Fair Trade Certified. As one of the first online beauty brands, e.l.f. continues to attract a highly engaged audience and sets benchmarks with new digital platforms. The brand is widely available at leading retailers such as Target, Walmart and Ulta Beauty, and has a growing international presence including at Boots, Superdrug and Douglas. Learn more by visiting www.elfcosmetics.com.
e.l.f. first partnered with Legge at the 2023 Indy 500 when she set the fastest one-lap (231.627 mph) and four-lap (231.070 mph) qualification speeds for a woman in the history of the race, which started in 1911.
Legge is the embodiment of e.l.f.’s vision, said Kory Marchisotto, chief marketing officer, e.l.f. Beauty.
“Katherine is a bold disruptor with a kind heart,” Marchisotto 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.”
In 2012, Legge became just the ninth woman to qualify for the Indy 500, following Guthrie who was the first in 1977, and is the only female driver entered in this year’s race. The springboard for Legge’s professional career was winning a Toyota Atlantic race on the Streets of Long Beach in 2005, making her the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America. In honor of that historic accomplishment, she will become the first female to be inducted into the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame later this month in Long Beach, California.
Legge, from Great Britain, will be competing in this year’s Indy 500 for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR (DCR), which she also drove for in 2007 in the INDYCAR SERIES.
“We’re pleased to welcome Katherine back to our team after all these years,” team owner Dale Coyne said. “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. 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.”
The 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and Universo. The Indy 500 Open Test is scheduled for April 10-11, while official practice opens May 14, followed by qualifying May 18-19.