Indiana football's Curt Cignetti enjoying Indy 500 prep

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti did a little research as he prepares to drive the honorary pace car at the 110th Indianapolis 500. After going out to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a test run, Cignetti wanted to know the fastest speed ever recorded at the event. Cignetti marveled at the answer — Aerie Lytendyk set the mark by hitting speeds of 239 mph in 1996.

“I Googled it, you know I like to Google,” Cignetti joked last week before speaking in Carmel last week. “I didn't come close to that (in the test run), and I can't imagine taking the turns and doing a lap at that speed. It's intense.

” More: What does Indiana football's Curt Cignetti think about CFP expansion? Cignetti, who will drive the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X , is getting tutoring lessons from racing vet Sarah Fisher. Fisher holds the record for most Indy 500 appearances by a woman (nine) and will be with Cignetti on Saturday.

She will be tasked with driving the official pace lap as long as Cignetti can get out of their USA-themed Corvette. “She's a vet and she knows the ropes and she knows the track,” Cignetti said. “She knows when to start the turn, when to come out of the turn, how the car will function, the trust you've got to have in the car, and she knows the program.