Dakar News: Katherine Legge Seeks Redemption at 2023 Indy 500
Katherine Legge, the accomplished British racing driver, is gearing up for a challenging run at the iconic 2023 Indianapolis 500. Driving the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing Honda, Legge has been battling to tame the temperamental machine, facing multiple near-misses and slight contact with the wall during practice sessions.
Despite the handling issues, Legge managed to push the car to a four-lap average speed of 230.082 mph, slotting her into the 31st position on the starting grid. The focus now shifts to the race, with Legge and her team working tirelessly to find a more driveable setup that can propel her forward.
“We tried a bunch of stuff on Monday,” said the 43-year-old Legge. “We have a direction that we think we’re going to go in, but we really need Friday to be a thing. We really need it not to rain. We’re missing time from last week. When you just do Indy, you’re not in the car week in, week out, it’s tough to be able to say exactly what the car needs.”
Fortunately, the rain held off on Friday, allowing Legge to complete 86 laps of practice and finish 31st on the speed charts. However, the comfortability with the car’s balance has come at the expense of outright pace, making it challenging for Legge to keep up with her rivals.
“We found a little bit of balance, but we lost a whole bunch of speed,” Legge explained. “I didn’t have anything to fight with. I couldn’t suck up on any cars. In fact, even when I was in the slipstream, I was getting dropped when I was flat.”
The absence of Legge’s teammate, Nolan Siegel, who was bumped from the field of 33 in qualifying, has further complicated the team’s setup development. Legge and her engineers are now considering a “wholesale throw it at the wall and see if it sticks” approach for Friday’s final practice session.
“We may do a wholesale throw it at the wall and see if it sticks change on Friday,” Legge said. “Unless the track comes to me or the car comes to me, all we can do is trim out so we’re fast enough to be there, be patient.”
With the Indy 500 just around the corner, Legge and her Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing team are determined to find the right setup to unleash the full potential of the No. 51 Honda and secure a strong result in this prestigious event.
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