San Jose, Calif. – Katherine Legge is becoming a real force in the Toyota Atlantic Series.
The only woman driving in Champ Car’s top developmental series pulled off a difficult pass for the lead Sunday and went on to win in the streets of downtown San Jose.
The victory – her second in a row and third of the season – boosted the Englishwoman from fifth to third in the season standings, trailing leader Charles Zwolsman by 35 points after nine of 12 races.
It was Zwolsman, who started from the pole, whom Legge passed for the lead on the 29th of 45 laps on the narrow, bumpy temporary circuit. She led the rest of the way, beating eventual runner-up David Martinez by 1.084 seconds.
Zwolsman lost the lead at the start to Tonis Kasemets but regained the top spot when Kasemets pitted with a mechanical problem. A few laps later, Zwolsman began to experience brake problems and then his gearbox began to malfunction.
Typically, one of the first questions asked of the Atlantics rookie in the postrace news conference was about her season in comparison to Indy Racing League rookie Danica Patrick, who never finished better than second in two seasons in Atlantics.
Legge reacted with a hint of irritation.
“I have a lot of respect for what she has done, but I haven’t had a single article written about me without Danica being mentioned,” she said. “I was looking through them the other day. Maybe now somebody will write one.”
