Caitlin Clark Commands Grand Marshal Role at 110th Indianapolis 500

Caitlin Clark Commands Grand Marshal Role at 110th Indianapolis 500

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark served as grand marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2026, delivering the traditional command for drivers to start their engines before a crowd that visibly turned out in large numbers to see her at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Clark, whose arrival in the WNBA has generated widespread attention beyond basketball, was named to the ceremonial role through a partnership between the speedway and Gainbridge, a financial services company. “I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as Grand Marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in a statement issued before the race. “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.'” Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles, in a separate statement, said fans had been eager to share the race-day experience with Clark since she was drafted by the Fever.

The grand marshal role at the Indianapolis 500 has historically drawn prominent names from sport and entertainment. Clark joins a list of past holders that, according to the draft material, has included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Blake Shelton. The race itself, run annually at the 2.5-mile oval on Indianapolis’s northwest side, is among the longest-standing events on the global motorsport calendar.

Clark had returned to the Fever’s lineup shortly before the race weekend after missing a game with an injury, posting 22 points and nine assists in a 90-82 win over the Golden State Valkyries. The Fever are targeting a return to the playoffs in the current WNBA season.