Caitlin Clark named grand marshal for 2026 Indianapolis 500

Caitlin Clark will summon drivers to their cars ahead of the Indianapolis 500.

The Indiana Fever guard was named the grand marshal of the 110th running of the iconic race on Tuesday. She was an obvious choice for the role given her level of fame, both in Indiana and across the country, and because she has a marketing deal with Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor of 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,’” Clark said in a statement.

It’s the first Indy 500 role for Clark, who had been rumored as a potential pace car driver in previous years.

This year, the pace car will be driven by Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti after the Hoosiers went 16-0 and won the College Football Playoff in January. Cignetti was named as the pace car driver in March and will lead the field around the track in a Chevrolet Corvette ahead of the green flag.

“His Hoosiers have been nothing short of remarkable, and their national championship run inspired our entire state,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles said in a statement. “[Cignetti’s] the perfect choice to drive the Chevrolet pace car, and I know his introduction on race day will bring out a special roar of appreciation from our crowd.”

That roar just may not come from the thousands of Purdue fans in attendance, however.

Cignetti and Clark will also be joined at the track by former tight end Rob Gronkowski. The “Fox NFL Sunday” analyst is back for another run as the “grand marshal” of the snake pit during the race. The snake pit in the Turn 3 infield features an EDM music party that begins the morning of the race and will continue even after the race starts.