Penalty hinders feisty Legge in Monterrey.

British Champ Car rookie Katherine Legge may not be pleased with a final result of 15th in Sunday's Tecate Grand Prix of Monterrey but her final result masked a fighting performance from the 25 year-old PKV Racing driver.

Following a weekend marred by engine changes, difficulties with the handling of her PKV Racing #20 Bell Micro Lola-Ford and a further clash with her fellow British rookie Dan Clarke in practice, Sunday's 76-lap race was another roller coaster ride for Champ Cars only female driver.

From 17th and last on the grid Legge picked up three places on the opening lap around the twisty 2.104-mile Fundidora Park circuit in Mexico thanks to brave first turn pass on Nicky Pastorelli and a collision between CTE-HVM teammates Clarke and Nelson Philippe.

Safely settled in 13th position Legge latched onto a large train of cars backed up behind her similarly troubled PKV teammate Oriol Servia only to lose all her hard earned ground with a brief spin in turn five.

Pushed back to 16th Legge persevered with a set of tyres that were well passed their best and began turning laps far quicker than the drivers immediately ahead of her. Briefly promoted to the top ten during the second round of pit stops Legge emerged ahead of both Pastorelli, Clarke and Jan Heylen for the final run to the finish, once again in 13th position.

While 13th would have placed Legge third in the six strong rookie class her afternoon wasn't over yet as race officials handed her a drive through penalty for some stout defending against her increasing nemesis Clarke in the closing stages. Forced to take an extra trip down pit road with less than ten laps remaining Legge was demoted to 15th where she remained for the rest of the race.

Despite losing several valuable championship points thanks to her penalty Legge still runs third in the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings just 12 points behind rookie leader Will Power heading into the next round of the series at the famous Milwaukee Mile.