Caitlin Clark received a rousing reception as she performed her grand marshal duties before the Indianapolis 500 for the first time on Sunday. Race organizers had announced on Tuesday that the two-time WNBA All-Star would serve as grand marshal for the event. Her basketball schedule had previously prevented her from taking part in race week activities.
Last May, the Indiana Fever played a home game the day before a rare doubleheader featuring the Indianapolis 500 and the Indiana Pacers. They also played on race weekend during her rookie season in 2024. However, this week, after beating both the expansion Portland Fire on Wednesday and Golden State on Friday, the team now enjoys a six-day break.
Clark was filmed taking to the stage and announcing the iconic phrase: 'Drivers, to your cars.' She joins a long list of celebrities who have served as grand marshal, including baseball stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, award-winning singer Blake Shelton, and actors Dylan Sprouse and Stephanie Beatriz.
Honoured to Represent Gainbridge
'I'm honoured to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,' Clark said in a statement earlier this week. 'I'm looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honoured tradition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."'
The Indiana Fever star has helped elevate women's basketball to new heights in both college and professional ranks, routinely drawing sellout crowds and prompting some opponents to move games to larger venues. Clark was the WNBA's number one draft pick in 2024 and earned the league's Rookie of the Year Award that season, breaking multiple records including the WNBA's single-season assists mark.
She is also the NCAA's career scoring leader and recently became the first player in WNBA history to record a second double-double with 30 or more points and 10 or more assists. Earlier this year, Clark was selected MVP of the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament as she returned from an injury-plagued second professional season.
Unique Energy and Presence
'Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamouring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 race day with Caitlin,' said Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles. 'Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.'
Clark has been a brand ambassador for Gainbridge, a race sponsor that also holds naming rights to the Fever's home arena, since her senior year in college. She is currently appearing in a second advertising campaign with the company.
