INDIANAPOLIS — Katherine Legge and Ryan Hunter-Reay were eliminated in an early accident in Sunday’s 110th Indianapolis 500.
On the race’s 18th lap, Hunter-Reay lost control of the No. 31 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet as he exited the second turn, spinning in the middle of the track. As the 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner’s car moved toward drivers’ right, Legge spun the No. 11 HMD Motorsports/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet when trying to avoid the spinning Hunter-Reay.
Hunter-Reay’s car then hit the outside retaining wall while Legge’s car spun and hit the inside retaining wall. Both drivers exited their cars.
“I was super loose from the start,” Hunter-Reay said.
“When you’re wearing on that right rear, it keeps the temperature, and the pressure keeps going up,” he said. “It got to a point where I just couldn’t catch it, and it just got turned around.”
Legge said she could not see through the smoke as she tried to avoid the spinning car.
“I went for the high side as he was moving down the track, and then he came back up the track, and so last minute I had to go left,” Legge said. “Just wasn’t enough time for the car to not spin out of control. It is what it is.”
Legge is attempting the Double, racing in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, potentially giving her a head start on the NASCAR race.
“I was hoping that we were just back there kind of saving fuel and chilling out,” Legge said. “We were just riding, you know, trying to get through the majority of the laps, and be really sensible, because I wanted to make the 1,100 miles.”
“I’m fine,” Legge said. “Just disappointed.”
This story might be updated.
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Katherine Legge out of Indy 500 due to crash
Reporting by Christopher DeHarde, Jessica Garcete, Scott Horner, Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
