Indianapolis, IN

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti to drive Indy 500 pace car

Published

2 days ago

March 17, 2026

Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti to drive Indy 500 pace car

After leading Indiana football to a 16-0 season and national championship, Curt Cignetti will drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 on May 24. Cignetti was announced as the pace car driver for the 110th Indy 500 on Fox during the World Baseball Classic final Tuesday.

Cignetti will lead the field of drivers in the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X to begin the race. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway gave the illustrious seat to the man who won 14 of the 17 national coach of the year awards he was eligible for in his first two seasons at Indiana.

Since Cignetti was hired ahead of the 2024 season, Indiana has gone 27-2 and made the College Football Playoff twice. This past season, Cignetti led the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and their first national championship ever.

“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,” IMS and IndyCar president Doug Boles said in a news release. “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.”

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Cignetti will become just the second football coach to drive the pace car, the first since Jim Harbaugh in 2013. Last year’s pace car was driven by Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and Fox analyst Michael Strahan.

Cignetti drove the Hoosiers to prominence in 2025, and he’ll now drive at the front of the pack to start “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Indy 500 pace car drivers: Indy 500 pace car drivers through the years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

All-time list of Indy 500 pace car drivers

2026: Curt Cignetti, Indiana football coach

2025: Michael Strahan: Former NFL player, television host and Fox NFL analyst

2024: Ken Griffey Jr: Baseball Hall of Famer

2023: Tyrese Halliburton: Pacers player

2022: Sarah Fisher: Former race car driver

2021: Danica Patrick: Former race car driver

2020: Mark Reuss: President of General Motors

2019: Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Former race car driver

2018: Victor Oladipo: Pacers player

2017: Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Actor

2016: Roger Penske: Racing team owner, businessman

2015: Jeff Gordon: Race car driver

2014: Dario Franchitti: Race car driver

2013: Jim Harbaugh: NFL player, NFL and college coach

2012: Guy Fieri: Celebrity chef

2011: A.J. Foyt (Mari Hulman George passenger): Former race car driver

2010: Robin Roberts: Broadcaster, morning show host

2009: Josh Duhamel: Actor

2008: Emerson Fittipaldi: Race car driver

2007: Patrick Dempsey: Actor

2006: Lance Armstrong: Former professional bicycle racer

2005: General Colin Powell: U.S. Secretary of State, chairman joint chiefs of staff

2004: Morgan Freeman: Actor

2003: Herb Fishel: General Motors’ racing executive director

2002: Jim Caviezel: Actor

2001: Elaine Irwin Mellencamp: Supermodel

2000: Anthony Edwards: Actor

1999: Jay Leno: Comedian, Tonight Show host

1998: Parnelli Jones: Former race car driver

1997: Johnny Rutherford: Race car driver

1996: Bob Lutz: Automotive executive

1995: Jim Perkins: Automotive executive

1994: Parnelli Jones: Race car driver

1993: Jim Perkins: Automotive executive

1992: Bobby Unser: Race car driver

1991: Carroll Shelby: Race car driver, designer

1990: Jim Perkins: Automotive executive

1989: Bobby Unser: Race car driver

1988: Chuck Yeager: Test pilot, Air Force general

1987: Carroll Shelby: Race car driver, designer

1986: Check Yeager: Test pilot, Air Force general

1985: James Garner: Actor

1984: John Callies: Automotive executive

1983: Duke Nalon: Race car driver

1982: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver

1981: Duke Nalon: Race car driver

1980: Johnnie Parsons: Race car driver

1979: Jackie Stewart: Race car driver

1978: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver

1977: James Garner: Actor

1976: Marty Robbins: Country music singer, NASCAR driver

1975: James Garner: Actor

1974: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver

1973: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver

1972: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver

1971: Eldon Palmer: Indianapolis-area car dealer

1970: Rodger Ward: Race car driver

1969: Jim Rathmann: Race car driver

1968: William Clay Ford Sr.: Executive chairman of Ford motors

1967: Mauri Rose: Race car driver

1966: Benson Ford: Automotive executive

1965: P.M. Buckminster: Automotive executive

1964: Benson Ford: Automotive executive

1963: Sam Hanks: Race car driver

1962: Sam Hanks: Race car driver

1961: Sam Hanks: Race car driver

1960: Sam Hanks: Race car driver

1959: Sam Hanks: Race car driver

1958: Sam Hanks: Race car driver

1957: F.C. Reith: Automotive executive

1956: L.I. Woolson: Automotive executive

1955: Thomas H. Keating: Automotive executive

1954: William C. Newburg: Automotive executive

1953: William Clay Ford Sr.: Automotive executive

1952: P.O. Peterson: Automotive executive

1951: David A. Wallace: Automotive executive

1950: Benson Ford: Automotive executive

1949: Wilbur Shaw: Race car driver, president of IMS

1948: Wilbur Shaw: Race car driver, president of IMS

1947: George W. Mason: Automotive executive

1946: Henry Ford II: Automotive executive

1941: A.B. Couture

1940: Harry Hartz

1939: Charles Chayne: Automotive executive

1938: Stuart Baits: Race car designer

1937: Ralph DePalma: Race car driver

1936: Tommy Milton: Race car driver

1935: Harry Mack: Automotive executive

1934: Willard “Big Boy” Radar: Long distance test driver

1933: Byron Foy

1932: Edsel Ford

1931: Willard “Big Boy” Radar: Long distance test driver

1930: Wade Morton: Race car driver

1929: George Hunt

1928: Joe Dawson: Race car driver

1927: Willard “Big Boy” Radar: Long distance test driver

1926: Louis Chevrolet: Race car driver, founder of Chevrolet

1925: Eddie Rickenbacker: Race car driver, owner of IMS

1924: Lew Pettijohn: Test driver

1923: Fred Duesenberg: Founder of Duesenberg

1922: Barney Oldfield: Race car driver

1921: Harry C. Stutz: Founder of Stutz

1920: Barney Oldfield: Race car driver

1919: Jess G. Vincent: Engine designer

1916: Frank E. Smith

1915: Carl Fisher: Created IMS

1914: Carl Fisher: Created IMS

1913: Carl Fisher: Created IMS

1912: Carl Fisher: Created IMS

1911: Carl Fisher: Created IMS

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Indianapolis, IN

Economic boost expected as Indianapolis hosts Final Four

Published

9 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Economic boost expected as Indianapolis hosts Final Four

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As Indianapolis prepares to host one of the biggest events in college basketball, downtown business owners say they are getting ready for a surge in customers.

“We do have some extra inventory coming in just to make sure we have enough for anybody who’s in town that may need something, but we carry a pretty heavy selection of souvenirs and that type of thing all year round,” said Kim White, Co-owner of Circle City Souvenirs.

The NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 4th and 6th is just the main event. The city will also host the Division II, III, and NIT Basketball Championships.

The events are expected to bring tens of thousands of fans to the city; filling hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

City leaders say it’s not just about basketball, but the ripple effect across the local economy. According to Morgan Snyder, vice president of communications at Visit Indy, there’s an expected 70,000 visitors coming to the city. Hotels are already sold out.

“According to our partners at Indiana Sports Corp, it’s about a $400 million economic impact,” said Snyder.

From concerts and fan expereinces to events along Georgia Street, Snyder says there will be something for everyone. After months on construction, Georgia Steet is expected to repoen just in time, clearing the way for crowds and celebrations.

“It’ll be a tailgate fan fest zone all weekend long to come in and enjoy. It’ll be a major thoroughfare for fans coming either from Gainbridge Fieldhouse or Lucas Oil Stadium to catch some of the game,” said Snyder.

For businesses, a packed downtown is a chance to shine on a national stage, and make a lasting impression on visitors.

“Typically we do pretty well when we’ve got big events in town. We also sell items like hotel gift shops like Sundries, and snacks and drinks so we do sell a lot of that as well,” said White.

“They’re going to come in and see and find just how vibrant of a destination Indianapolis is. They’re going to come back and book another trip. It’s a strategy that has worked for us for years,” said Snyder

Check out the list of full events here.

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Indianapolis, IN

Planned Parenthood closing 2 Indy clinics, citing loss of federal money

Published

21 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Planned Parenthood closing 2 Indy clinics, citing loss of federal money

Planned Parenthood will shutter two Indianapolis clinics, leaving its Georgetown Road facility as the only local branch of the nationwide organization.

The Midtown and Southside locations will close effective Friday, April 3. The Georgetown health center will have “additional appointment availability and services” in the wake of the closure, according to Planned Parenthood’s regional website.

Patients receiving ongoing care like birth control or hormone replacement therapy can continue to do so through telehealth or by visiting another Planned Parenthood location, the website said.

“Because of changes to federal funding, including the loss of Medicaid reimbursements, we are making difficult but necessary adjustments to our health center network so we can continue caring for patients in our communities for years to come,” an FAQ posted with the closure announcement read in part.

Planned Parenthood estimated in 2024 that about half of patients receive care paid through either Medicaid or the Title X family planning program, which covers contraception and STI screening for low-income Americans. The Trump administration has moved to block the organization from receiving money from both streams.

Trump’s signature budget legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025 with a provision banning clinics that provide abortion, including Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid reimbursement for one year.

It has been illegal since 1976 to use federal dollars, including Medicaid, to cover abortion unless it’s necessary to save a life or to terminate a pregnancy caused by rape or incest. Planned Parenthood does not perform any abortions in Indiana, as the state’s near-total ban only allows the procedure to be performed in narrow circumstances at hospitals or their surgery centers.

For months, Planned Parenthood contested the constitutionality of the Medicaid funding ban in various federal courts, dropping its case on Jan. 30, 2026, after an appeals court ruled in the government’s favor.

Though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services restored Title X money to clinics in December 2025 after withholding it for eight months, recipients learned last week that they have one week to reapply for funding. That’s typically a months-long process, and more than 100 congressional Democrats are asking HHS to extend current grants for another year, NPR reported on March 17.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.

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Indianapolis, IN

Former Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton announces retirement

Published

1 day ago

March 18, 2026

Press Room

Former Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton announces retirement

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Former Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday.

Hilton played for the Colts from 2012-2021. He hauled in 638 catches for 9,812 yards and 53 touchdowns in his time in Indianapolis.

Hilton led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016 with 1,448 yards. He had five 1,000-plus yard seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl four times.

Hilton last played in the NFL in 2022, playing three games for the Dallas Cowboys.

He announced his retirement by posting to X (formerly Twitter):

“After an incredible journey, it’s time for me to retire from the game of football and begin a new chapter.
Thank you to Mr. Irsay, his family and the entire Colts organization for believing in a kid from Miami and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream wearing the horseshoe.
I also want to thank the Cowboys organization for giving me the opportunity to continue playing the game I love.
To my teammates – thank you for the brotherhood. The early mornings, long practices, and the battles on Sundays are memories I’ll carry with me forever.
To the fans in Indy, your support meant everything to me from day one. I’ll never forget running out of that tunnel at Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time.
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And at the heart of it all, I want to thank my family and friends. Thank you for the sacrifices, the constant support and for believing in me. I would not have been able to live out this dream without you.
Forever a Colt.”

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