INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Curt Cignetti, who coached Indiana to its first national football championship, will drive the honors pace car in the Indianapolis 500.
Tournament organizers made the announcement Tuesday night during the World Baseball Classic. Cignetti will compete in “The Greatest Event in Racing” on May 24 in a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, billed as the most advanced Corvette ever built.
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In Chinetti’s first two seasons, the Indians made an incredible leap, going from the losingest Bowl Subdivision program in history to the first major college football team since the 1890s to go 16-0. Signetti became the first person to win the Associated Press Coach of the Year award back-to-back years.
Indiana enters the 2026 season with the longest winning streak in the nation (16 games), the longest winning streak in the Big Ten Conference (10 games) and the longest home winning streak in the nation (14 games). Signetti’s 27 wins also are the most in the FBS over the past two years.
Now, he will lead 33 cars to the green flag.
“When Coach Cignetti leads the NTT IndyCar Series stars to take the green flag in this year’s Indy 500, our field will form a special victory lap formation,” said Doug Boles, chairman of the series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “His Indians teams were outstanding and their national championship run inspired our entire state.”
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Past racers include Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., actors Morgan Freeman and Patrick Dempsey, journalist Robin Roberts and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
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AP Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
