Curt Cignetti has turned down a lot of speaking engagements and appearances offered since he led Indiana to the national championship.
But he couldn’t say no to driving the pace car at the Indy 500.
“It’s a great event, and it’s part of the fabric of the state,” Cignetti told Anthony Calhoun of WISH TV. “I can remember watching the Indy 500 growing up. I just hope I can handle it.”
The car Cignetti will be handling is a Corvette ZR1x, known as America’s quickest production car.
“America’s hypercar will be front and center at the Indianapolis 500, and it has the speed to stay there,” Global Corvette and Performance Cars Team Executive Chief Engineer Tony Roma said in a release. “The ZR1X is made for the racetrack. This Corvette, inspired by America’s 250th anniversary, will absolutely give Coach Cignetti and the fans a thrill.”
The Corvette ZR1X delivers 1,250 horsepower across all four wheels, combining a 186-hp electric motor on the front axle with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 putting 1,064 hp to the rear wheels. For Pace Car duty, the ZR1X is equipped with the Carbon Aero package, including dive planes on the front bumper, underbody aero strakes and the rear wing, which creates more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed.
The Corvette ZR1X achieves incredible acceleration – capable of zero to 60 mph in under 2 seconds – and can reach 233 mph, approaching speeds seen by race cars in the field.
Cignetti was asked last month what was the fastest he has driven a car.
“I can’t tell you the truth,” Cignetti playfully responded. … “I would not be setting a good example for the young people.
“But I bought a new Audi SQ8 the first summer I was employed here (at IU) from down the road there, and that thing has got a lot of horsepower in it. One night within the first couple weeks that we owned it, my wife and I were returning from Ohio to see our son and there was nobody on the highway. I laid it down pretty quick, it’s got a little juice in it.
“But I’m going to put the pedal to the metal when they tell me to in Indy.”
The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026.
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