PWN Out Your Competition! The Ultimate Motorsports Challenge!
The Hoosiers’ national championship winning coach will help open The Greatest Spectacle in Racing this May.
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J.
Rebilas-Imagn Images In January, Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti led the Hoosiers onto the field at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens en route to the program’s first national championship. In May, he’ll lead the field of 33 drivers in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Cignetti was named the driver of the pace car for the 2026 Indy 500, per an official release from IndyCar on Tuesday night.
“Coach Cignetti will have our field in a special victory lap formation as he leads the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the green flag at this year’s Indy 500,” IndyCar and IMS President Doug Boles said in the release. “His Hoosiers have been nothing short of remarkable, and their National Championship run inspired our entire state. 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 is set to drive the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, with more details set to come as we draw closer to raceday on Sunday, May 24.