Ed Carpenter Prepares for the Indianapolis 500

Ed Carpenter, a seasoned IndyCar driver, is gearing up for his 23rd Indianapolis 500 race with confidence in both his team and his car. Alongside his duties as a co-owner, he’s looking forward to the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., set for August. This event aims to shine a light on Indy car racing for a broader audience.

Driving the pace car at a major race is a unique experience, but being entrusted with the Indianapolis 500 pace car is something else entirely. This year’s honor goes to a notable figure in Indiana: the head football coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, Curt Cignetti.

The fascinating aspect of being a pace car driver is how it differs from a ceremonial first pitch; the pace car actually plays a role in the race’s dynamics. You need to maintain an appropriate speed to heat the tires effectively. Too slow, and you might irk some drivers.

To ensure he’s prepared, Cignetti has been practicing at the Brickyard, with IndyCar sharing visuals of his efforts over the weekend. He’ll be leading the pack in an impressive Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X for the 110th Indianapolis 500. This high-performance car boasts a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine that cranks out over 1,000 horsepower, supplemented by an electric motor providing an additional 186 horsepower.

While we don’t know what Cignetti typically drives, it seems like he has a pretty varied collection. Thankfully, he’s gotten some solid advice from Sarah Fisher, a former IndyCar driver herself with nine Indianapolis 500 competitions under her belt and experience as a pace car driver.

Cignetti will lead the pace laps in his Corvette, featuring a striking paint job, with the broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. ET on FOX.