(Inside INdiana Business) – Coach Curt Cignetti, who led Indiana University to its first national title in football, has been named the honorary pace car driver for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials.
Cignetti’s selection was revealed during Tuesday night’s broadcast of the World Baseball Classic championship game on Fox, IndyCar’s broadcast partner.
Cignetti is set to drive the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X to lead the May 24 race.
Cignetti’s “Hoosiers have been nothing short of remarkable, and their National Championship run inspired our entire state,” IndyCar and IMS President Doug Boles said in written remarks. “He’s the perfect choice to drive the Chevrolet Pace Car, and I know his introduction on Race Day will bring out a special roar of appreciation from our crowd.”
Cignetti took over the team in November 2024 and has since amassed a 27-2 record. The 2025 season saw the Hoosiers win their first Big Ten Conference title since 1945 and the program’s first-ever national championship.
In early March, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun presented Cignetti with the 2026 Sachem Award. The award is considered Indiana’s highest honor and is given to “individuals who have profoundly shaped Indiana through character, leadership, and service.”
Cignetti won 14 of the 17 national coach of the year awards for which he was eligible in his first two seasons at IU.
Earlier this week, IU officials confirmed previous reports that Cignetti had signed a memorandum of understanding on an eight-year contract extension, paying him an annual average of $13.2 million. He is now one of three collegiate coaches to earn at least $13 million per year.
Previous Indy 500 pace car drivers include Michael Strahan (2025), Ken Griffey Jr. (2024), Tyrese Haliburton (2023), Sarah Fisher (2022) and Danica Patrick (2021).
Other sports figures to drive the car include Lance Armstrong (2006), Jim Harbaugh (2013) and Victor Oladipo (2018).
The long list of television standouts to drive the pace car includes James Garner (1975, 1977, 1985), Jay Leno (1999), Anthony Edwards (2000), Morgan Freeman (2004), Patrick Dempsey (2007), Josh Duhamel (2009), Robin Roberts (2010), Guy Fieri (2012), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (2017).
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