INDIANA — From the sidelines of Memorial Stadium to the Yard of Bricks, Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti is trading his whistle for a steering wheel.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced today that Cignetti has been named the official pace car driver for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Cignetti will lead the field of 33 drivers to the green flag behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X.
The honor follows a historic run that has firmly established Cignetti as a legend in Bloomington. After taking over the program in December 2023, he led the Hoosiers to an unprecedented undefeated national championship season in 2025-26, securing the university’s first-ever football national title.
Cignetti’s selection as pace car driver highlights a two-year tenure defined by record-breaking success:
- Winning Streak: Cignetti has amassed 27 wins across just two seasons at Indiana, leading to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances.
- National Recognition: He swept the coaching awards circuit, winning 14 of 17 available National Coach of the Year honors. Notably, he is the first coach to win consecutive awards from the AP, AFCA, ESPN Home Depot, The Sporting News, and Walter Camp Foundation.
- Big Ten Dominance: He is the first coach to win both the Hayes-Schembechler and Dave McClain Big Ten Coach of the Year awards in consecutive seasons.
- Historical Start: Cignetti is the first Division I head coach to start 8-0 or better in consecutive seasons at different schools.
The Corvette ZR1X: A Match for a Champion
The vehicle Cignetti will pilot, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, represents the pinnacle of American performance. As the most powerful Corvette ever produced, it features a twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of delivering over 1,000 horsepower. The pace car will be finished in a unique livery commemorating the 110th running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Chevrolet has a long-standing history with the Indy 500, having provided the pace car more than 30 times since 1948.
Race Day Details
The 110th Indianapolis 500 is expected to draw a sell-out crowd to the Brickyard. Fans across the country can tune in to FOX, which begins its inaugural year as the race’s broadcast partner.
- Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026
- Coverage Starts: 10:00 a.m. ET
- Green Flag: Expected shortly after 12:45 p.m. ET
“Curt Cignetti has brought a championship culture to Indiana, and it is only fitting that he leads the world’s fastest field of drivers to the start of our most iconic race,” said IMS President J. Douglas Boles.
