Indiana University’s head football coach Curt Cignetti is set to take the wheel of the ceremonial pace car for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, a tradition that blends the state’s gridiron pride with its storied motorsport heritage.
A Mentor’s Moment
Cignetti has been spending time with Sarah Fisher, a veteran of nine Indy 500 starts and the fastest female qualifier in history, who is guiding him through the nuances of the track’s 2.5‑mile oval.
The coach’s admiration for the drivers’ blend of speed and concentration mirrors the discipline he demands on the football field, and he has spoken of the race as a vivid reminder of Indiana’s cultural fabric.
Though he has declined most media engagements and public appearances this season, Cignetti made an exception for the Speedway, citing the event’s deep resonance with the community that has supported his program for years.
Ahead of the race, he will return to the Motor Speedway for a final practice session on Friday night, fine‑tuning his lap times as the crowd anticipates the sight of a football coach sharing the grid with the sport’s elite drivers.