Home / Sports / Coach Cignetti To Pace Indy 500
Coach Cignetti To Pace Indy 500
18 Mar
Summary
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana University coach, named honorary Pace Car driver.
- He led Indiana to a 16-0 season and National Championship.
- The 110th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Curt Cignetti, the celebrated head coach of Indiana University football, has been appointed the honorary Pace Car driver for the 110th Indianapolis 500. This honor comes after his monumental success guiding the Hoosiers to a 16-0 season and the National Championship, an extraordinary feat for the program.
The 2026 Indianapolis 500 is set to take place on Sunday, May 24, with extensive coverage planned on FOX. Cignetti will drive the latest Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, leading the 33 NTT IndyCar Series drivers to the start of the iconic race.
His tenure at Indiana, beginning in December 2023, has been marked by exceptional performance, including 27 victories across two seasons and two College Football Playoff appearances, culminating in the 2025-26 national title. Cignetti has garnered numerous coaching awards, including multiple National Coach of the Year honors.
This appointment places Cignetti in a distinguished group of previous honorary Pace Car drivers, such as Michael Strahan and Morgan Freeman. FOX Sports will provide exclusive broadcast coverage for all 18 NTT IndyCar Series races in 2026, including the Indianapolis 500.
