Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever star, named Indianapolis 500 grand marshal

A two-time WNBA All-Star, Clark will call racers to their cars before Sunday's race. Justin Casterline / Getty Images Share articleTo find a star worthy enough of filling one of the Indy 500’s most iconic roles, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway didn’t have to look far this year. Indiana Fever megastar Caitlin Clark, whose seismic impact on the game of women’s basketball has made her a global name, has been named grand marshal for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The grand marshal’s role at most races is to give the command to start engines, but that is reserved for Roger Penske at Indy (part of a long history of the track owner saying “start your engines”). So Clark’s job will be to call drivers to their cars during the pre-race ceremonies, which are steeped in tradition. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,'” Clark said in a press release. The ties between Clark and the Indy 500 are not just local. Gainbridge has been the presenting sponsor of the 500 since 2019, and Clark has been a brand ambassador for the company since her senior year of college (before she even began playing games at the Fever’s home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse). IMS has wanted Clark to attend the Indy 500 for several years, and this year the timing finally worked out. “Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 race day with Caitlin,” IndyCar and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Through our incredible partnership with Gainbridge, everyone joining us for the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event will get to do just that.” The Indy 500 has already announced a grandstand sellout for the second consecutive year. With approximately 275,000 grandstand seats plus a massive infield, attendance is expected to be similar to last year’s 350,000 number on Sunday. Recent grand marshals at the Indy 500 have included names like Major League Baseball legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez (who shared the role last year), actor Dylan Sprouse, “Encanto” star Stephanie Beatriz, and country music star Blake Shelton. Clark isn’t the only big Indiana name involved in this year’s 500. Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti will be the honorary pace car driver and will drive a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X around the track before the race. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms