Bump Day Drama At Indianapolis Puts Legge In 500 Field

Katherine Legge timed her way into the field for the 97th Indianapolis 500 on bump day, and will roll off from the outside of the 11th row on May 26. Photo by Bret Kelley

In a little more than a day Katherine Legge went from Indianapolis 500 spectator to Indianapolis 500 qualifier.

The surprising turn of events propelled Legge, who logged her first track time in the morning practice session (24 laps), into her second Indianapolis 500. Less than 48 hours earlier, her Honda-powered car was a skeleton in the Gasoline Alley garage. Her deal with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports was announced on May 18.

“I haven’t slept in like three days, so I’m going sleep tonight, which is good,” said Legge. “It’s been a long day, but it’s been a great day and a great opportunity. So just happy now, relieved to be in the field.”

Nearby, Michel Jourdain Jr. buried his head in the shoulder of his girlfriend, Concha, as the realization of not even presenting for a qualifying attempt for the 97th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race sunk in.

Legge sat in the No. 81 Schmidt Peterson Pelfrey-prepared Angie’s List car prepared to potentially bump her way back into the 33-car field for the May 26 race. On the bubble at 223.176 mph for her four-lap average speed set five hours earlier, she breathed easier when seeing crew members offering condolences to the veteran driver from Mexico.

By Jourdain’s account, and supported by teammate Graham Rahal after turning five laps on the 2.5-mile oval late in the six-hour session, the car just wasn’t comfortable to drive. The chassis is the same that Takuma Sato challenged for the lead on the final lap in last year’s race and last driven by Mike Conway at Long Beach in mid-April.

Josef Newgarden (225.731 mph) was the fastest second-day qualifier in the No. 21 Century 21 car for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. Also qualifying were Rahal (225.007), Sebastian Saavedra (224.929), rookie Tristan Vautier (224.873), Ana Beatriz (224.184), Pippa Mann (224.005), rookie Conor Daly (223.582) and Buddy Lazier (223.442).

Lazier, 45, will make his 17th Indianapolis 500 start – the most in the field. The average speed of the field is 226.176 mph.

There are four first-year Indy 500 competitors and four females in the field.

Izod IndyCar Series
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Speedway, IN
97th Annual Indianapolis 500 Starting Line Up

Row 1
1. #20 – Ed Carpenter – Ed Carpenter Racing
2. #26 – Carlos Munoz – Andretti Autosport
3. #25 – Marco Andretti – Andretti Autosport

Row 2
4. #5 – E.J. Viso – Andretti Autosport
5. #2 – A.J. Allmendinger – Team Penske
6. #12 – Will Power – Team Penske

Row 3
7. #1 – Ryan Hunter-Reay – Andretti Autosport
8. #3 – Helio Castroneves – Team Penske
9. #27 – James Hinchcliffe – Andretti Autosport

Row 4
10. #4 – J.R. Hildebrand – Panther Racing
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12. #11 – Tony Kanaan – KV Racing Technology

Row 5
13. #22 – Oriol Servia – Panter DRR
14. #19 – Justin Wilson – Dale Coyne Racing
15. #7 – Sebastien Bourdais – Dragan Racing

Row 6
16. #9 – Scott Dixon – Chip Ganassi Racing
17. #10 – Dario Franchitti – Chip Ganassi Racing
18. #14 – Takuma Sato – A.J. Foyt Enterprises

Row 7
19. #83 – Charlie Kimball – Chip Ganassi Racing
20. #16 – James Jakes – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
21. #77 – Simon Pagenaud – Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports

Row 8
22. #60 – Townsend Bell – Panther Racing
23. #8 – Ryan Briscoe – Chip Ganassi Racing
24. #78 – Simona De Silvestro – KV Racing Technology

Row 9
25. #21 – Josef Newgarden – Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
26. #15 – Graham Rahal – Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
27. #6 – Sebastian Saavedra – Dragon Racing

Row 10
28. #55 – Tristan Vautier – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
29. #18 – Ana Beatriz – Dale Coyne Racing
30. #63 – Pippa Mann – Dale Coyne Racing

Row 11
31. #41 – Conor Daly – A.J Foyt Enterprises
32. #91 – Buddy Lazier – Lazier Partners Racing
33. #81 – Katherine Legge – Schmidt Peterson Motorsports

DNQ: #17 – Michel Jourdain Jr – Rahal Letterman Lanigan