Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has revealed that Katherine Legge will be driving a fourth car for the team in this year’s Indianapolis 500.
The 42-year-old British driver has recently been competing in IMSA in GT classes, and has raced in various other series over the course of her career.
Legge competed in Champ Car in 2006 and 2007, earning six top 10s in that time period and finishing 16th and 15th in the championship standings.
She also competed in IndyCar in 2012 and 2013 on a part time basis, driving for Dragon Racing and Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorports in a few different rounds.
Her appearance in the 2013 Indy 500 was the last time she has competed in IndyCar, although she did race open wheel cars in Formula E for the first two rounds of the series existence in 2014.
“I am thrilled to be back at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the biggest race in the world, the Indy 500,” said Legge.
“Bobby [Rahal] gave me my first chance to win races for the team in the Jaguar I-PACE series a few years ago and it feels like a homecoming of sorts to be back with the team, especially seeing as I’m also very proud to be back with HPD in IMSA, and now in the IndyCar Series.
“Racing at Indy with an Indy 500-winning team and with Honda is an amazing opportunity, and one I am very grateful for and intend to make the most of. I’m hoping I can learn from my teammates and team members, and transition smoothly back to open wheel racing for May. I can’t wait to get to work!”
The announcement came as a bit of a surprise, with various drivers being rumored to fill the expected announcement of a fourth Indy 500 entry.
RLL only recently expanded to three full time entries last season, and this will mark the first time the team has attempted to field four cars in the Indy 500.
The entry will have sponsorship from Hendrickson, which manufactures suspension systems and other components for the commercial transportation industry.
“After more than a few attempts, I’m happy to announce that Katherine will join us in our Hendrickson Honda for the 107th running of the Indy 500,” said co-owner of RLL Bobby Rahal.
“I’ve been a fan of Katherine’s for many years and know that, in the right situation, she can be competitive and figure into the outcome at the end of the race. She has driven for us before in the Jaguar electric program and won from pole in Mexico City and finished on the podium several times, so it is nice to have her back with us to work together at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time.
“I know she looks at this as a chance to show everybody what she really can do.”
