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Caitlin Clark Gives Indy 500 Start Command as Grand Marshal

Her short, televised role drew attention after she said an emcee cue was missed and she felt nervous before about 300,000 fans, signaling how top athletes cross into marquee events.

Overview

  • Clark served as grand marshal at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday and delivered the traditional line “Drivers, to your cars” during pre-race ceremonies.
  • She said the emcee never gave the verbal cue she expected, which left her waiting briefly before deciding to give the command herself.
  • Clark described feeling nervous speaking on live television before roughly 300,000 people but called the experience “super cool” and enjoyed fan interactions on the red carpet and in the pits.
  • Clark left the Speedway before the finish and watched the race on TV, where Felix Rosenqvist beat David Malukas by 0.0233 seconds in the closest Indy 500 finish ever.
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials praised Clark’s presence as a connection to Indiana sports and her appearance highlights how star athletes can boost cross-sport fan engagement and local promotions.