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Caitlin Clark and race cars go together, right? Well, it’s more like Caitlin Clark and basketball, even if she never got a national championship ring. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has to go without this rising WNBA star. See why Caitlin isn’t driving the Indianapolis 500 pace car. 

Why isn’t Caitlin Clark driving the Indianapolis 500 pace car? 

Unfortunately, fans have to miss out on Caitlin Clark during the Indy 500 because she’s too busy to drive the Indianapolis 500 pace car. 

She was recently drafted to the Indiana Fever after completing her college basketball career, and has a game against the Los Vegas Aces the night before the race. Therefore, getting back to Indiana would be an issue. 

Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles shared that she can’t make it because she’s playing ball and that’s where she should be. But eventually, when their schedules match up she will drive a pace car. 

Former IndyCar Series driver Sarah Fisher will drive the pace car during the race instead. Officials are still trying to pick a celebrity to drive the 33-car field to the green. 

An Indy 500 pace car leading the race
Indy 500 pace car | Getty Images)

A few contenders include food influencer Keith Lee, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, and former Indianapolis Fever WNBA star, Tamika Catchings. 

But if you won’t see Caitlin Clark in the Indianapolis 500 pace car, what does she actually drive? It’s safe to assume that she spends time behind the wheel of a Buick. 

She has a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Buick. Buick added her to its “See Her Greatness campaign to raise awareness to inequity coverage of women’s sports. 

The campaign was created to increase the visibility of women’s sports, drive equity and inclusion, and create platforms to have women create meaningful conversations. 

As a University of South Carolina alum, I need to be Cocky about the Lady Gamecocks. Caitlin Clark isn’t done bringing great things to women’s basketball, but I need to give a shout-out to Dawn Stanley, A’ja Wilson, Kamilla Cardoso, Te-hina PaoPao, and other excellent players.

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Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.