Yahoo: rain may affect Legge 'Double' attempt

Katherine Legge’s plan for one of U.S. motorsport’s hardest same-day feats came with a weather warning on Sunday, May 24. Rain was in the forecast for the Indianapolis 500, the first leg of Legge’s attempt to run both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day. Yahoo Sports and USA Today both reported that any delay at Indianapolis could complicate the turnaround required to reach North Carolina in time for the evening start. The Indianapolis 500 was scheduled to take the green flag at 12:45 p.m. ET. ### What exactly is Legge trying to do on Sunday? Katherine Legge is attempting “The Double,” the long-shot Memorial Day challenge of starting the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. INDYCAR said on May 13 that Legge would be the first woman to attempt it. The 45-year-old British driver is entered in the Indianapolis 500 in the No. 11 e.l.f. Cosmetics Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing support, according to INDYCAR. NASCAR.com said she was also set to race in the Coca-Cola 600 later Sunday night. ### Why does rain at Indianapolis matter so much? The Indianapolis 500 was set for a 12:45 p.m. ET start, and that timing leaves little slack for a same-day flight to Charlotte. (indycar.com) Yahoo Sports reported that weather delays or stoppages in Indianapolis would tighten the schedule for Legge’s trip between the two tracks. USA Today reported Sunday that the Indianapolis race faced a 45% chance of rain, while a separate race-day weather report said rain and thunderstorms could affect the event and produce delays. Yahoo also cited forecasts showing periodic rain risk around race day. ### How narrow is the window between the two races? (sports.yahoo.com) Yahoo Sports reported that the flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte takes about 70 to 90 minutes. The Coca-Cola 600 was scheduled for a 6 p.m. ET green flag, meaning the margin for error depends heavily on how quickly the Indy 500 can start and finish. (usatoday.com) Only a small group of drivers has tried the same-day double since 1994. Yahoo said Legge would be the sixth driver to attempt it, joining John Andretti, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson. Tony Stewart remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles in one day, Yahoo reported. ### What has Legge said about the attempt? Katherine Legge told NASCAR.com on May 15 that the double would be “an opportunity of a lifetime.” Yahoo, in a separate feature on the logistics, described the operation as dependent on helicopters, timing and weather. (sports.yahoo.com) Yahoo also reported earlier in the week that the plan amounted to a tightly choreographed travel operation between Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. (sports.yahoo.com) That made Indianapolis weather a central variable before either race had started. ### What were officials and outlets saying about the forecast Sunday? Indianapolis-area race coverage on Sunday said rain had disrupted the Indy 500 before, including a four-hour delay in 2024, and local forecasts remained unsettled heading into the morning. (nascar.com) USA Today reported that the National Weather Service outlook suggested a possible window for racing before later rain. (sports.yahoo.com) Yahoo’s race-day roundup advised following forecast updates as Sunday developed. The next concrete milestones were the 12:45 p.m. ET start in Indianapolis and, if Legge got through the first leg, the 6 p.m. ET start of the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. (sports.yahoo.com) (indystar.com)