Indiana coach Cignetti drives pace car at Indy 500

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti took the wheel of the pace car as honorary driver for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, adding another milestone to his tenure since leading the Hoosiers to a national championship. Cignetti drove a custom painted Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X with a red, white, and blue America 250 theme, leading the 33 car field around the 2.5 mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before peeling into the pit lane just before the start.

Cignetti, who has become one of the most recognizable figures in Indiana sports after transforming the Hoosiers football program, practiced for the role in the days before the race. He received guidance from Sarah Fisher, a former IndyCar driver with nine Indianapolis 500 appearances who also serves as a pace car driver during caution periods. During a practice session, Cignetti said the car reached 177 mph, adding that he was scheduled to go 175 mph, followed by 190 mph twice, with the final lap speed to be determined.

“My biggest thing on the turns is where I need to work because it’s natural to want to slow down. The car will take the turn, so you just got to let it,” Cignetti told reporters at the track.