Caitlin Clark named Indy 500 grand marshal

Indianapolis Motor Speedway said on May 19 that Caitlin Clark will serve as grand marshal for the 110th Indianapolis 500, putting one of Indiana’s biggest current sports stars into a featured pre-race role. The WNBA guard, who plays for the Indiana Fever and is a Gainbridge brand ambassador, is scheduled to appear at the track on Sunday, May 24. The race will be run that day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with defending winner Alex Palou starting from pole. IMS announced Clark’s selection in a race-week news release. ### What exactly will Caitlin Clark do on race day? Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Clark will take part in pre-race duties before the start of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24. The track’s announcement described her as the grand marshal for the event and said the appearance will come ahead of the race itself. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) The IMS release also tied Clark to Gainbridge, one of the event’s most visible sponsors and a company already linked to her through endorsement work. The speedway called her a Gainbridge brand ambassador in announcing the role. ### Why is Clark a natural fit for this event? Clark plays in Indianapolis for the Indiana Fever, making her one of the state’s highest-profile athletes heading into Memorial Day weekend. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) The speedway’s announcement framed the pick as a crossover between two of Indiana’s biggest sports properties: the Fever and the Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis Motor Speedway made the announcement five days before the race, giving organizers a prominent local name for the pre-race program as the event moves toward a sellout-style race weekend. IMS’s race page says public gates will open at 6 a.m. ET on race day, May 24. ### Who else is at the center of the 2026 race? Alex Palou will start first after winning pole for the second time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NBC Sports reported in its finalized starting-lineup report. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Palou, the defending Indianapolis 500 winner, posted a four-lap average of 232.248 mph in qualifying. Alexander Rossi and David Malukas will join him on the front row, according to NBC Sports and USA Today’s qualifying coverage. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) USA Today’s race coverage said the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24. Its event listings and race guide identify Palou as one of the central storylines entering the race weekend. ### When is the race, and where can readers track it? The 110th Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday, May 24, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. (nbcsports.com) USA Today’s race guide said pre-race television coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET, with race coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET and the green flag scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. (usatoday.com) Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s event pages and USA Today’s race hub both point readers to updated race-week information, including the starting grid, schedule and race-day logistics. Clark’s appearance is scheduled before the race start, while Palou will lead the field to green from the pole position on May 24. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) (usatoday.com)