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[/media-credit]In a radical departure from its standard single-car qualifying format for ovals, the IZOD IndyCar Series implemented a time trial format for this weekend’s Iowa Corn Indy 250. Tonight’s qualifying consisted of three separate 30-lap ‘Heat Races’ to set the field for Saturday night’s race.
Rookie Katherine Legge’s lap times in today’s second practice session landed her in the second heat race to determine her position in the field. While the format is familiar to fans across the Midwest, it is not something the UK native has often experienced.
“The heat race format definitely adds a different element for the fans,” said the TrueCar Racing driver. “It also gives you an opportunity to see how your car will develop over a stint. So why not try it? Why not try something different.”
Legge and her Dragon Racing crew chased setup issues in practice today, resulting in lap times that put her 23rd in a field of 25 cars entered this weekend. The pilot of the No. 6 TrueCar Dragon Racing entry would have to start the second heat race in eighth position.
“The car was much better in the heat race than it was in practice today,” continued Legge. “We had a really good test here recently, so we thought we would come back with a really good car for this weekend’s race. Seemingly, it wasn’t like that, but my crew are some of the best and worked really hard to correct that. We have a little bit of work left to do, but we made some progress and we look forward to tomorrow night. I am really just happy to have the opportunity that TrueCar and my other sponsors have provided. We hope to give them a great show.”
Legge made up two positions during the heat race, finishing sixth in her group to ultimately start 19th in tomorrow night’s Iowa Corn Indy 250. The race at Iowa Speedway will be held under the lights on Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. Central Time, live on NBC Sports Network.
About Katherine Legge:
Birthdate: July 12, 1980
Hometown: Guildford, England
Residence: Indianapolis
Marital Status: Engaged
Website: www.katherinelegge.com
Twitter: @katherinelegge (personal) and @KatOnTrack (for on-track updates)
Facebook: katherineracing
Career Highlights
Named to drive for TrueCar-Dragon Racing in 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season … Competed in European-based DTM touring car series as factory Audi driver from 2008-10, driving for Futurecom TME, Abt Lady Power and Team Rosberg … Drove in Rolex 24 at Daytona for Robinson Racing in 2007 … Competed in Champ Car World Series in 2006-07 for PKV Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, becoming first female to lead Champ Car race … Recorded five top-10 finishes in Champ Car in 2006 … First woman to win major open-wheel race in North America, with three victories in Toyota Atlantic in 2005. Finished third in series … Earned Formula One test with Minardi in 2005 … Drove for A1 Team GB in A1 Grand Prix, tested Champ Car in 2005 … Raced limited schedule in British and North American Formula Renault championships and Can-Am championship in 2004 … Competed in limited British Formula 3 schedule in 2003 … Competed in British Formula Renault in 2001-02, wininng pole in 2002 at Oulton Park with track-record lap … Earned British Racing Drivers’ Club “Rising Stars” honor in 2002 … Became first woman to win pole in British Formula Ford Zetec championship in 2000 … Competed in karting from 1990-99.
About TrueCar, Inc.
TrueCar, Inc. is an online automotive information and communications platform focused on creating a better carbuying experience for dealers and consumers. Consumers want a hassle-free car buying experience anddealers want high-quality sales velocity. TrueCar helps achieve these goals by providing unbiased market information on new car transactions and by supplying an online communications platform through which dealersand consumers can communicate with each other. TrueCar’s market-based information provides bothconsumers and dealers with an accurate and comprehensive understanding of what others actually paid recently for similar vehicles, both locally and nationally. TrueCar’s communications platform then allows informed, ready-to-buy consumers to communicate directly with participating dealers. Some of the nation’s largest and most well respected membership and service organizations rely on websites powered by TrueCar to help educate their members and customers who are in the automotive market. TrueCar is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, and has offices in San Francisco, CA, and Austin, TX. After experiencing dramatic growth since 2006, TrueCar is developing a suite of products and services centered on radical clarity through the comprehensive analysis of market data and information. TrueCar’s participating dealer partners have sold over 500,000 new vehicles to TrueCar users nationwide.
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