HMD, Foyt Team Up To Field Katherine Legge In The Indianapolis 500

The gasoline haze is already settling over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the grid for the 110th Indianapolis 500 is set. Thirty‑three cars will take the green flag on May 24, 2026, with Katherine Legge securing the final spot in the No. 11 e.l.f.

Cosmetics Chevrolet through a joint AJ Foyt Racing–HMD Motorsports effort. It’s a pressure‑heavy position, but Legge knows the Brickyard and arrives ready for it. For longtime fans, her entry carries more weight than a qualifying number.

The Indy 500 is built on legacy, and fifty years after A.J. Foyt gave Janet Guthrie the test that opened the door for women at the Speedway, the Foyt name is again backing a woman determined to prove she belongs. Legge isn’t here to log laps. She’s here with real speed and a team built to support her.

A Full‑Circle Moment For A.J. Foyt Racing

When A.J. Foyt put Janet Guthrie in a backup car in 1976, he didn’t do it for headlines. He did it because she was fast. He believed the stopwatch, not the stereotypes. That moment helped shift the culture of the Speedway, and it remains one of the most important decisions in the event’s history.

Today, Larry Foyt is carrying that legacy forward. As team president, he has pushed to modernize the program while honoring the values his father built it on. The partnership with HMD Motorsports and e.l.f. Cosmetics are part of that evolution.

The No. 11 Chevrolet Legge will be driven, not a token entry. It’s a fully prepared, data‑driven effort backed by two organizations with something to prove. Larry Foyt has been clear: the team wants racers, not placeholders.

Legge fits that mold. She understands the Speedway’s rhythm, the way the air moves in a 230‑mph draft, and the nerve required to hold the throttle down into Turn 1 when the car is dancing on edge. She’s earned this seat, and the Foyt garage knows it.

The Speed And Grit Of Katherine Legge

Legge’s résumé needs little explanation. In 2023, she became the fastest woman to ever qualify for the Indianapolis 500 with a four‑lap average of 231.070 mph, a mark that still stands. She has led in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, won in major open‑wheel series, and taken on NASCAR’s heaviest machinery with the same grit she brings to Indy.

Her 2025 season was one of the most demanding of her career. She became the first woman since 2012 to qualify for a NASCAR Cup Series race, wrestling 3,400‑pound stock cars across ARCA, Xfinity, and Cup events.

Switching back to an INDYCAR, less than half the weight, far more downforce, and dramatically higher cornering loads requires a complete mental reset. The braking points change. The steering inputs change. The margin for error shrinks. But Legge has always adapted quickly.

Her ability to jump between disciplines is one of the reasons she remains one of the most versatile drivers in modern motorsports. She’s not just returning to Indy. She’s returning with more experience, more toughness, and more confidence than ever.

HMD Motorsports Steps Onto The Biggest Stage

This entry is more than a simple technical alliance. It’s a strategic move that signals HMD Motorsports’ intent to expand its footprint. Since 2019, HMD has dominated the INDY NXT ladder system, stacking up team championships, driver titles, and Rookie of the Year honors.

Their program is built on development, engineering depth, and relentless preparation.HMD Motorsports President Mike Maurini has spent years building a structure capable of graduating drivers to IndyCar. Now, the organization is taking a step onto the sport’s biggest stage.

Partnering with Foyt gives HMD access to the Speedway’s top‑level infrastructure. Foyt gains the engineering muscle of one of the most successful junior‑series programs of the last decade. Bringing in Legge adds another layer.

She’s a veteran who knows how to translate on‑track feel into actionable feedback critical during the compressed practice windows of the Month of May. Her presence gives HMD a steady hand as they make their Indy 500 debut.

Breaking Barriers With e.l.f. Cosmetics

Corporate partners shape the modern INDYCAR landscape, and e.l.f. Cosmetics is making one of the boldest pushes of the 2026 season. Their involvement goes far beyond a logo on the sidepod. They’re launching a full trackside activation to expand access to and visibility in motorsports.

Fans will be able to see a full‑scale replica of the No. 11 Chevrolet, explore a curated display of artifacts from Legge’s career, and participate in a fan‑friendly version of the iconic “Kiss the Bricks” tradition. It’s a brand making a statement: motorsports is for everyone, and representation matters.

A presence like that does more than fill space in the fan zone. It gives supporters a tangible connection to the program backing Legge and turns the No. 11 entry into something people can interact with, not just watch at speed.

For a month built on tradition and spectacle, that kind of visibility helps anchor the team in the Speedway’s energy. It turns casual fans into participants, not just spectators. And for a team building momentum, that kind of engagement can matter as much as speed.

What This Means

With Legge’s entry, the 33‑car field for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 is complete. For the event, it adds a veteran presence with proven speed. For the sport, it highlights the growing trend of strategic alliances between established teams like Foyt and rising forces like HMD.

It also reinforces how critical every seat on the grid has become in an era defined by razor‑thin margins. Legge will have two teammates, Santino Ferrucci and Caio Collet, to share data with throughout the month. In modern IndyCar racing, that collaboration is everything. Drafting partners matter.

Engineering notebooks matter. Legge won’t be isolated; she’ll be part of a three‑car effort with shared goals and shared information. She’ll also benefit from the rhythm that comes with running as part of a multi‑car operation.

Ferrucci has finished in the top ten in every Indy 500 he’s started, and Collet brings fresh data from his first full month at the Speedway. Their combined notes will give Legge a broader picture of how the track evolves through practice and qualifying.

What’s Next

The 110th Indianapolis 500 is shaping up to be a race loaded with storylines, but Katherine Legge’s return stands out. Her partnership with A.J. Foyt Racing and HMD Motorsports bridges generations, honors trailblazers like Janet Guthrie, and places a proven competitor back where she belongs.

When the green flag waves on May 24, the No. 11 Chevrolet will carry history, speed, and purpose into Turn 1. Legge has the experience, the equipment, and the determination to make all 500 miles count.

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