Caitlin Clark gets wild reception at Indy 500 as she performs special role before Felix Rosenqvist wins in the closest finish in legendary race’s history
Caitlin Clark was given a rousing reception as she performed her grand marshal duties before the Indy 500 for the first time on Sunday.
Race organizers announced Tuesday they had chosen the two-time WNBA All-Star as the grand marshal for Sunday’s race. Her basketball schedule had prevented her from previously participating in race week activities.
Last May, the Fever played a home game the day before a rare Indianapolis 500-Indiana Pacers race day doubleheader. They also played on race weekend during her rookie season in 2024.
This week, though, they beat both the expansion team Portland Fire on Wednesday and Golden State on Friday and have now got a six-day break.
Clark was filmed taking to the stage and announcing: ‘Drivers, to your cars’.
She joins a long list of celebrities who have been the grand marshal. Baseball stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, award-winning singer Blake Shelton and actors Dylan Sprouse and Stephanie Beatriz have had the honor in the past.
Caitlin Clark got a rousing reception as she performed her grand marshal duties at the Indy 500
The two-time WNBA All-Star had been selected to be the grand marshal for Sunday’s race
‘I’m honored 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-honored tradition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.’
Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist went on to claim victory in the closest finish in the history of the Indy 500.
He swung to the outside of David Malukas, then found a way past the Team Penske driver to win by a margin of 0.0233 seconds.
Malukas looked like he was in position to win when he passed race leader Marcus Armstrong off the final restart with one lap to go while Rosenqvist and Armstrong, teammates with Meyer Shank Racing, battled wheel to wheel down the back straightaway and through the fourth and final turn.
But Rosenqvist had just enough power to pull away from Armstrong and snake behind Malukas before making the decisive outside pass in the final 50 feet.
The closest previous finish came in 1992 when Al Unser Jr. beat Scott Goodyear across the yard of bricks by 0.043 seconds.
It was Rosenqvist’s second career win in 120 IndyCar races and comes after the recent birth of his first child. He is the third Swedish driver to win the race, joining Kenny Brack and Marcus Ericsson.
Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist went on to claim victory in the legendary race
It was the closest finish in the history of the Indy 500 with the Swede winning by 0.0233 secs
Meanwhile, Indiana Fever star Clark has helped push women’s basketball to new heights in both the college and professional ranks, routinely attracting sellout crowds and prompting some opponents to move games to larger venues.
Clark was the WNBA’s No. 1 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’s 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 pro season.
‘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,’ Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said.
‘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 home arena of the Fever, since her senior year in college. She’s currently appearing in a second ad campaign with the company.
