Casey Irsay Foyt, daughter of late Colts owner Jim Irsay, named as honorary starter for Indy 500

A few days after the death of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is keeping his legacy alive. The INDYCAR series announced Friday that Casey Irsay Foyt, one of Jim Irsay's daughters, will serve as the honorary starter at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.

As Irsay's daughter, Foyt will represent the Colts and the Irsay family at the marquee event, waving the checkered flag to start the race.

"As Indianapolis prepares for a special weekend that showcases our city’s unmatched ability to successfully host massive global sporting events, it’s incredibly appropriate and especially meaningful to celebrate Jim’s contributions to our city and state," Mark Miles, the Penske Entertainment President and CEO and INDYCAR CEO, said in a statement. "Put simply, the Indianapolis we know and love would not be remotely possible without Jim."

"We’re honored to have Casey on the flag stand representing her family, our friends at the Colts organization and Hoosiers everywhere who cherish our unique sports scene. Our organizations have a deep history together, and our fans cherish the familiar sight of players at the racetrack and drivers at the stadium," added J. Douglas Boles, the president of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), in the statement.

The team announced Wednesday that Jim Irsay had "passed away peacefully in his sleep" at the age of 65. The longtime Colts owner passed down ownership of the team to his three daughters, including Foyt.

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As two of Indianapolis' strongest sports institutions, the Colts and IMS have been connected over the years. Per the INDYCAR statement, the two organizations worked together to plan the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

The honorary starter is a relatively recent tradition in the Indy 500's storied history, and serves as a ceremonial start to the race. Peyton Manning, the longtime Colts quarterback, waved the checkered flag in 2007. More recently, the honorary starter role has been taken by famous actors: Austin Butler and Jodie Comer served in the role in 2024. Additionally, in recent years, the green flag has been waved by workers or patients at from Indiana University's hospital.

The Indy 500 will take place Sunday, with the race beginning just after noon local time.