Caitlin Clark has always been known for being confident both on and off the court. So when fans talk about the Indiana Fever star, nervous is usually not the first word that comes to mind. But speaking in front of 300,000 people just days after dropping 22 points in a nationally televised game? Well, even Clark admitted that she felt a little “awkward.”

After being sidelined from a game due to back stiffness, Clark led the Indiana Fever to a statement win over the Golden State Valkyries, where she fully embraced her villain side. But as soon as that game ended, the 24-year-old traded the basketball court for one of the biggest stages in sports as she stepped into another major spotlight as the grand marshal of the Indianapolis 500.

As the GM, Clark got the opportunity to deliver the iconic command – “Drivers, to your cars” – and while she aced it, she also revealed just how nervous she was. Because, according to Clark, the person who was supposed to cue her never actually gave the signal.

“They had me standing there for a very long time, so I was getting nervous,” Caitlin Clark said while talking to the reporter on Tuesday. “They told me that the guy was going to say, ‘And here to give the command,’ and then he never said that, so I was awkwardly kind of waiting for a second. I was like, ‘You know what, whatever. I’m just going to go for it. They can adjust.’ And it turned out fine. The crowd was cheering anyway, so it just kind of seemed like I was giving them a second to cheer, but yeah, it turned out well.”

“I was definitely a little nervous. I’m usually not nervous when there’s a microphone in my face, but when you get in front of 300,000 people and on live television, that’s a lot. I didn’t want to mess up my four words. But it was still super cool,” she further added.

Just a few months earlier, Clark was a celebrity keynote speaker at Becker’s Healthcare CEO/CFO roundtable. So, her nervousness when it comes to speaking in front of large crowds is not something fans usually see.

But standing at the center of the Indy 500, which is widely known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” she clearly felt different. D/espite all that, she made it clear that she absolutely loved the experience, especially the red carpet one.

“Even just doing the red carpet before … I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ There’s … masses of people, waiting for me. Just the excitement from people, maybe from Indiana, or have traveled, just excited to see me and excited to take part in the race,” she said.

And honestly, the timing of the event worked out perfectly for Caitlin Clark as well. With the Fever not scheduled to play again for six days after their win over Golden State, she finally had the opportunity to fully experience one of Indianapolis’ biggest traditions without worrying about any immediate game preparation.

But ironically, after finally crossing the Indy 500 off her bucket list, Clark ended up missing the race’s biggest moment altogether.

Caitlin Clark Missed the Wildest Moment of the Entire Indy 500

Even after finally getting the chance to experience the event in person for the first time, Clark still ended up missing the biggest moment of the entire race.

While speaking to reporters, the Fever star admitted that she actually left before the race reached its dramatic finish. But even though she was no longer at the track, that did not stop her from reacting like every other fan watching at home.

“Obviously, a really cool finish,” Clark said, per The Athletic’s James Boyd. “… I left before the race was over, but I was watching at home on TV, and I was screaming at the TV.”

And honestly, Clark had every reason to react that way.

The ending turned into one of the most unforgettable finishes in Indy 500 history. Felix Rosenqvist pulled off a stunning last-corner pass on David Malukas and won the race by just 0.0233 seconds – officially making it the closest finish the event has ever seen.

So while Caitlin Clark successfully handled the pressure of delivering the iconic “Drivers, to your cars” command in front of 300,000 people, she still ended up experiencing the race the same way millions of other fans did – yelling at the television from home.