lo on ▁release ▁ ▁Starting ▁command ▁ ▁Grand ▁mar shal ▁In ▁some ▁years , ▁a ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁has ▁been ▁named ▁for ▁the ▁race . ▁The ▁duties ▁of ▁the ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁may ▁include ▁gre eting ▁drivers ▁and ▁dign itar ies ▁during ▁pre - race ▁cer emon ies , ▁deliver ing ▁the ▁" dri vers ▁to ▁your ▁cars " ▁message , ▁and ▁r iding ▁in ▁the ▁pace ▁car . ▁This ▁person ▁may ▁or ▁may ▁not ▁be ▁the ▁same ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁as ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 ▁Festival ▁Par ade . ▁Un like ▁other ▁races , ▁the ▁grand ▁mar shal ▁will ▁not ▁give ▁the ▁starting ▁command . ▁ 1 9 9 1 : ▁Norman ▁Schwar zk opf ▁ 2 0 1 5 : ▁N ast ia ▁Li uk in ▁ 2 0 1 6 : ▁Florence ▁Hend erson ▁( her ▁final ▁appearance ) ▁ 2 0 1 8 : ▁Nick ▁Go e pper ▁ 2 0 1 9 : ▁Matt ▁Is eman ▁& ▁Ak bar ▁G b aja - Bi amil a ▁ ▁National ▁anth em ▁The ▁Star - Sp ang led ▁B anner ▁has ▁been ▁performed ▁before ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁Ind y ▁ 5 0 0 ▁in ▁most ▁years . ▁Up ▁through ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 0 s , ▁the ▁song ▁was ▁typically ▁played ▁by ▁the ▁Pur due ▁All - American ▁March ing ▁Band ▁without ▁a ▁vocal ist . ▁However , ▁in ▁some ▁rare ▁occasions , ▁a ▁vocal ist ▁was ▁used .