Although not one to set her expectations too high, Katherine Legge has admitted that, in hindsight, she is underwhelmed with a record-breaking sixth place in Milwaukee. source: crash.net Despite making her oval racing debut at the city's famous Mile, Legge eclipsed more seasoned rivals by becoming the first female to lead a lap in Champ Car history, before taking sixth place on the road to overturn her previous record placing of eighth, achieved on debut at Long Beach in April, despite having to wrestle with a damaged front wing on the #20 Bell Micro/PKV Racing entry. The 25-year old Briton gained valuable track time and experience by running an extraordinary number of laps during Friday's open test and Saturday's practice session, and then ran another 50 tours in Sunday's morning warm-up, the most of any driver, as she focused on a couple of long runs to get a feel for the car in race conditions. That track time then paid off as Legge drove like a ten-year veteran instead of a rookie, conducting a smart, patient race, resisting the temptation to challenge Paul Tracy when he used his patented high line into turn one on opening lap and benefiting when the ensuing three-car pile-up moved her into fifth place. When the second yellow flag came out, the PKV team decided to go with an alternative fuel strategy and remained on track, putting Legge into the race lead for the first time in her Champ Car career. Not content to just lead the race, however, the Briton then proceeded to defend her position against fellow countryman Justin Wilson for the next dozen laps, before a damaged wing caused her car to understeer and let Wilson, on newer tyres, through. Her position then ranged from second to seventh as the race continued through its three-stop cycle, but she managed to get some payback on Wilson as she passed him to keep from going a lap down, eventually moving into sixth place on lap 156 when rookie rival Will Power pitted for the last time. However, despite setting new marks for the series, Legge admitted to a sense of anti-climax after the race.
Recent Articles
|
Racing Multimedia
Recommendations |