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Casey Irsay Foyt will wave the green flag to start this year’s Indianapolis 500 to honor her late father’s “irreplaceable and impactful legacy,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced Friday.
Jim Irsay led the Indianapolis Colts as owner for nearly 30 years, a period during which the team earned 10 division championships, two AFC championships and the club’s fourth world championship with a victory in Super Bowl XLI.
Irsay died Wednesday afternoon in his sleep. He was 65.
“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,” IMS and IndyCar President Doug Boles said in a written statement. “Our organizations have a deep history together, and our fans cherish the familiar sight of players at the racetrack and drivers at the stadium.”
Irsay succeeded his father as owner in early 1997 after Robert Irsay’s death. Foyt and her sisters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Kalen Jackson, all have ownership stakes in the team, in addition to serving as vice chairs since 2010 and overseeing various parts of the Colts operation.
A Colts spokesperson declined Wednesday night to discuss the team’s succession plan, which is kept on file with the NFL along with plans for the league’s 31 other teams. But experts said they anticipate Irsay-Gordon, Foyt and Jackson to continue operating the team without any hiccups.
Foyt, who worked with the NFL to coordinate the first regular-season game to be played outside North America, in London in 2007, manages community relations and marketing for the Colts. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in sports marketing and helped revamp the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. Foyt, her husband, Anthony (grandson of Indy 500 winner A.J. Foyt), and their five children live in Carmel.
The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 starts May 25 at 12:45 p.m.
IBJ reporter Mickey Shuey contributed.
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Touching tribute.
Great idea ! Fitting tribute .