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4w ago

Curt Cignetti Leads Field as Honorary Pace Car Driver at Indy 500

A public recognition of his rise after Indiana’s unbeaten national title, the role followed training from veteran Sarah Fisher who then handled the race’s official pace duties.

Indiana's Curt Cignetti Leads The Field As Indy 500 Honorary Pace Car Driver
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Overview

  • Cignetti drove the USA‑themed Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X to lead the 33‑car field on the warmup laps and peeled off into the pit lane before the start on Sunday.
  • He completed multiple practice runs at the Brickyard and reported top practice speeds near 177 mph as he prepared to pace the field.
  • Sarah Fisher, an Indy 500 veteran who instructed Cignetti during preparations, took over as the official pace‑car driver for caution periods and the in‑race pace lap.
  • The honorary pacing occurred the same day Felix Rosenqvist won the 110th Indianapolis 500 by 0.023 seconds over David Malukas, giving fans a dramatic finish after the pre‑race pageantry.
  • IMS picked Cignetti as a ceremonial representative of the state in recognition of his rapid rise after leading Indiana to a 16‑0 national championship, and the appearance highlighted both the spectacle of the 1,250‑horsepower ZR1X and the safety training behind the role.