The 109th Indy 500 proved to be more than a motorsport event. From the celebration of legendary figures to high-octane drama, the race had it all. At the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter took on the role of co-grand marshal for the 119th edition of the Indy 500, alongside another baseball legend, Alex Rodriguez. “This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” Jeter said to address the pre-race ceremony. Then, sometime later, A-Rod signaled the drivers with a green light to head to their cars.

We have all seen Jeter hitting soaring home runs and clutch plays; however, watching him in full riding gear was unmatched! Moving on, right at the moment when the checkered flag dropped, Spain’s Alex Palou narrowly defeated Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson. Just some hours later, Jeter made a move that reflected whose side he’s on!

He reposted an Instagram post on his story from the track featuring him, Alex Palou, and a few others to congratulate Palou. “Congrats @alexpalou,” he captioned. Makes all the sense, though! The 28-year-old is the first from his country, Spain, to win the Indianapolis 500.

He’s a three-time INDYCAR champion, too! Palou addressed his win after the event. He said, “I cannot believe it. It’s amazing. It’s amazing to be here; it’s amazing to win. There were some moments that I felt really good in the race, but I didn’t know if I was going to be able to pass Marcus or not. But made it happen, first oval win — what better place?” He couldn’t contain his excitement. After all, he reportedly overtook Ericsson with 14 laps to go this time.

Jeter’s reaction to Alex Palou’s win wasn’t simply a gesture, it reflected that a man already a GOAT knows how to recognize another legend in the making!

Jeter’s presence brought baseball nostalgia to this grand motorsport day. Safe to say, all the stars of American sports came together under one sky, and that’s rare!

Except for Jeter, these stars made the event extra special

You now know how Derek Jeter added his touch to the 2025 Indianapolis 500. It was a weekend where Jeter also met with some familiar faces from the world of professional sports. Along with him, there were NFL legends Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Michael Strahan.

It was a legitimate celebration of American sports. Adding to the list, the event also had former NFL defensive star and present broadcaster Michael Strahan. He was tapped to drive the pace car.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady, also joined. He shared the moment with IndyCar legend Jimmie Johnson for a quick two-seat ride-along. And guess what? Rob Gronkowski, another big name from the NFL, was spotted. He had his former teammates, too, and enjoyed his time with them.

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It was great to witness the blend of racing with other areas of American sports culture. Indeed, the Indy 500 is doing it all to expand its reach. It’s not every day that we see all the greats of the sports world in one frame.

This year’s edition was extra special, wasn’t it?