In a groundbreaking move for the Indianapolis 500, this year will see a beauty products company serve as a primary sponsor on a car. Dale Coyne Racing with RWR announced that Katherine Legge will be driving their No. 51 Honda Dallara with primary sponsorship from e.l.f. Cosmetics. This partnership marks the first time a beauty brand has been the primary sponsor of an entry at the prestigious race. Legge expressed her honor in representing this historic effort put forward by e.l.f., stating that the company is changing the face of motorsports by supporting women in the industry and challenging norms.
The aim of this partnership is to attract more female fans to the Indy 500, with the hope of empowering women who are breaking barriers and chasing their dreams. Legge, who set record speeds for a woman during the 2023 Indy 500 qualification, embodies e.l.f.’s vision as a bold disruptor with a kind heart. She is driven by positivity, inclusivity, and accessibility, paving the way for future drivers in the industry. Legge, who became the ninth woman to qualify for the Indy 500 in 2012, is the only female driver entered in this year’s race.
Legge’s professional career was propelled by her historic win on the Streets of Long Beach in 2005, where she became the first woman to win a major open-wheel race in North America. As a result of this accomplishment, Legge will be the first female inducted into the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame later this month alongside legends of the sport. She will be competing for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, the team she also drove for in 2007 in the Champ Car World Series, where she made history by leading a race in 2006.
Team owner Dale Coyne expressed his enthusiasm in welcoming Legge back to the team after all these years and his excitement to work with her again for this year’s Indianapolis 500. He also highlighted the significance of the historic partnership with e.l.f. at the race, looking forward to making the sponsor proud in May. Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer of e.l.f. Beauty, praised Legge as a beacon of limitless possibilities and a force for positive change in the racing world. The partnership between Legge, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda, and e.l.f. aims to create a platform that encourages and supports women in motorsports.
With e.l.f. Beauty as the primary sponsor on Katherine Legge’s car at the Indianapolis 500 this year, a new chapter in the history of the race is being written. This partnership not only highlights the changing landscape of motorsports but also celebrates the achievements of women in the industry. Legge’s journey from a nine-year-old dreaming of becoming a race car driver to being the first female driver with a beauty brand as the primary sponsor at the Indy 500 is a testament to perseverance and breaking barriers. As the only female driver entered in this year’s race, Legge is set to make history once again on the iconic track.
