Corvette ZR1X Named as the Official 2026 Indy 500 Pace Car with IU Coach Curt Cignetti as the Honorary Driver

Mar 18, 2026

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Corvette ZR1X Named as the Official 2026 Indy 500 Pace Car with IU Coach Curt Cignetti as the Honorary Driver

Photo Credit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has announced that Curt Cignetti, head coach of Indiana University’s championship-winning football team, has been named as the honorary Pace Car driver for the 110th Indianapolis 500. Coach Cignetti will be driving the new 2026 Corvette ZR1X with a special livery that will be unveiled at a later date.

The 2026 Indy 500 will run on Sunday, May 25th and will be broadcasted live on FOX with coverage beginning at 10 am ET.

“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 J. Douglas Boles said. “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.”

Following his announcement as Indiana University’s head football coach in December 2023, he has let the Hoosiers to a nation’s best 27 victories over the last two seasons which included two college football playoff appearances and IU’s first national title for the 2025-26 season.

Cignetti was also the first FBS coach to win consecutive national Coach of the Year awards from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press, ESPN Home Depot, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Foundation.

Coach Cignetti will lead the field of 33 IndyCars drivers to the green flag for the start of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing behind the wheel of the all-new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. The performance hybrid sports car features 1,250 horsepower and a performance hybrid All-Wheel Drive, making it the most advanced Corvette ever produced. The Corvette ZR1X with its one-of-a-kind Indianapolis 500 livery will be unveiled at a later date.

Last year’s official pace car was the 2025 Corvette ZR1 which was driven by NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Previous drivers have also included Morgan Freeman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Robin Roberts, Patrick Dempsey, Ken Griffey Jr., and Tyrese Haliburton.

Tickets for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 24 and all other Month of May events are available at IMS.com/Tickets or via the IMS Ticket Office at 317-492-6700.

Source:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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