Indiana coach Curt Cignetti to drive the honorary pace car at the Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Curt Cignetti, who coached Indiana to its first national title in football, will drive the honorary pace car at the Indianapolis 500.

Race organizers made the announcement Tuesday night during the World Baseball Classic championship game. Cignetti will drive a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, touted as the most advanced Corvette ever made, at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on May 24.

The Hoosiers made an incredible leap during Cignetti's first two seasons, going from the losingest Football Bowl Subdivision program in history to the first major college football team to finish 16-0 since the 1890s. Cignetti became the first to win back-to-back AP Coach of the Year awards.

Indiana enters the 2026 season with the nation's longest winning streak (16 games), the longest Big Ten winning streak (10) and the nation's longest home winning streak (14). Cignetti's 27 wins also are the most in the FBS over the past two years.

Now, he'll lead the 33-car field to the green flag.

“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,” said Doug Boles, president of both the series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “His Hoosiers have been nothing short of remarkable, and their national championship run inspired our entire state.”

Past pace car drivers include Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., actors Morgan Freeman and Patrick Dempsey, journalist Robin Roberts and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.

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FILE - Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks during the champions news conference after theiir win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, on Jan. 20, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

Relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a minor league contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, first reported by the New York Post, had not yet been announced.

Kahnle would get a $1.5 million salary while in the major leagues if added to the 40-man roster and would have the chance to earn $250,000 in performance bonuses.

A 36-year-old right-hander, Kahnle was 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA and nine saves over 66 games last year in his only season with the Detroit Tigers. He had a 1.35 ERA in 32 appearances through June 22, then struggled to a 14.85 ERA in his next 17 games through Aug. 12 and rebounded with a 2.20 ERA in his last 17 games.

He pitched two scoreless innings over two appearances for Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

Kahnle has a 3.61 ERA with 17 saves and an 11-19 record over 11 big league seasons with Colorado (2014-15), the Chicago White Sox (2016-17), the New York Yankees (2017-20, 2023-24), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2022) and the Tigers.

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Israel catcher CJ Stubbs (38) and pitcher Tommy Kahnle, right, embrace after defeating Nicaragua in a World Baseball Classic game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)