Katherine Legge's 2007 Champ Car campaign came to a disappointing conclusion when the #11 Dale Coyne Racing entry quit under just as a top ten finish beckoned at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Despite being frustrated by a spin in second qualifying, which restricted her to 16th on the grid after she had improved on a handling-afflicted first session, Legge showed glimpses of race potential after posting the third-fastest lap in Sunday morning's warm-up, as the only other runner under 1min 27secs behind front row starters Sebastien Bourdais and Will Power.
However, the performance was not as apparent once the race started, leaving the Briton battling with familiar opponents Alex Figge, Mario Dominguez and the cars of Oriol Servia, Alex Tagliani and Nelson Philippe that had stalled at the start. While Servia quickly cleared off, going on to take a hard-earned podium, Legge remained in contention for a top ten finish, leaving Tagliani a lap adrift going into the closing stages.
However, just as the field was preparing to go green after a late-race caution period, the distinctive purple-and-silver #11 coasted to a halt coming out of the famed Peraltada turn and, despite repeated attempts to restart, left Legge a frustrated spectator for the closing stages when, instead of being able to make up places she dropped to 15th in the final result.
“I was disappointed to end the season like we did," she sighed, having racked up her eighth DNF in 14 races, "We would have liked to have finished in the top ten, but we had a mechanical failure with the car. I tried my best to get it restarted, but it just wouldn't co-operate for me. I'm really sorry because the team did another outstanding job of getting the right set-up on the car [for the race]. All we can do is look at all the positives and prepare for next season.”
Next season remains something of a mystery for Legge at present, despite her ambition of remaining in the USA. Her deal with DCR is for this year only, and she has been mentioned in connection with a possible third car at Team Australia. With whispers of a third entry from Minardi Team USA - a Legge target ahead of 2007 - also doing the rounds, there are opportunities in Champ Car, and it could depend on where her manager, series boss Kevin Kalkhoven decides to place her.
Outside of the series, however, there has been talk that Legge could be a target to replace the departing Vanina Ickx in Audi's DTM squad, while she has apparently attracted attention from various GP2 squads with relation to the new Asian 'winter' series.
