Surprise, Surprise For Rookies PREMA & Swartzman At 109th INDY500 Qualifications

ROOKIE Robert Shwartzman from the rookie team PREMA captures the NTT P1 Pole position - nipping our Takuma Sato.Robert Shwartzman & PREMA Team - Indianapolis 500 Qualification Photo By: John Cote via NICS (2025)

Surprise, Surprise For Rookies Shwartzman & PREMA At 109th INDY500 Qualifications

In a stunning turn of events at the 109th Indianapolis 500 qualifications on May 17-18, 2025, rookie team PREMA Racing and its debutant driver Robert Shwartzman defied expectations to claim pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The European powerhouse, new to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and grappling with a lackluster start to the 2025 season, showcased remarkable pace as Shwartzman, a 25-year-old Israeli rookie with no prior oval experience, delivered a blistering four-lap average of 232.790 mph to secure the top spot. This historic achievement marked PREMA as the first team to win pole in its IndyCar debut and Shwartzman as the first rookie pole-sitter since 1983, sending shockwaves through the paddock.

Israeli Robert Shwartzman, a 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion and 2021 FIA Formula 2 runner-up, built a versatile racing career with PREMA, served as a Ferrari F1 reserve driver, and competed in endurance racing before joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2025. Image Credit: Will Buxton via FB/META (2025)

PREMA Racing, a celebrated European racing team, has encountered a difficult start in its debut 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, struggling through the first five races: the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club Indy Grand Prix, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park, and the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Entering IndyCar with high expectations, the team fielded two Chevrolet-powered cars driven by veteran Callum Ilott and rookie Robert Shwartzman, but their performances have been lackluster. As the newest of the series’ 11 full-time teams, PREMA has grappled with the complexities of IndyCar’s competitive field, hybrid systems, and tire management, resulting in consistent finishes in the lower half of the 27-car grid.

Callum Ilott, a 25-year-old British driver with 38 prior IndyCar starts and two top-5 finishes, was expected to lead PREMA’s charge, but his results have disappointed. In St. Petersburg, he finished 19th after a suboptimal hard-tire strategy and a mistake at Turn 10, while at Thermal, he placed 26th following a refueling issue and a collision with Shwartzman. Ilott’s qualifying struggles, often starting outside the top 20, have compounded the team’s challenges, forcing him to fight from the back. Strategic missteps, setup issues, and PREMA’s inexperience have hindered Ilott’s ability to replicate his past IndyCar performances, despite his familiarity with tracks like Barber and the Indianapolis road course.

The front row for the 109th Indianapolis 500, held on May 25, 2025, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, consists of the following drivers, listed with their starting positions, car numbers, teams, engines, and key driver information, based on qualifying results:

Robert Shwartzman (Pole Position)

Car Number: 83

Team: Prema Racing

Engine: Chevrolet

Qualifying Speed: 232.790 mph (4-lap average)

Driver Information: A 25-year-old rookie from Israel, Shwartzman made history as the first Israeli-born driver to qualify for the Indy 500 and the first rookie to earn pole since Teo Fabi in 1983 - Fabi secured the pole with a four-lap average speed of 207.395 mph, setting a new track record at the time, further, Fabi became the first rookie to win the pole since Walt Faulkner in 1950. This is Shwartzman's and Prema Racing's first-ever oval race. His pole-winning performance stunned the paddock, showcasing his talent in a highly competitive field.

Takuma Sato

Car Number: 75

Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Engine: Honda

Qualifying Speed: 232.478 mph

Driver Information: A 48-year-old veteran from Japan, Sato is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2017, 2020). Known for his aggressive driving style, he has 11 career IndyCar starts at Indy, with a strong track record, including multiple top-10 finishes. Sato’s experience and speed make him a formidable contender, and his front-row start marks a return to prominence for RLL Racing.

Pato O’Ward

Car Number: 5

Team: Arrow McLaren

Engine: Chevrolet

Qualifying Speed: 232.098 mph

Driver Information: A 26-year-old from Mexico, O’Ward is a rising star in IndyCar with five career wins since 2021. He has yet to win the Indy 500 but has finished sixth or better three times, including a strong runner-up finish in 2024. Known for his bold passing moves, O’Ward’s front-row start positions him as a favorite for the 2025 race.

Despite a rocky start to their 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign, PREMA Racing has proven their mettle on the grand stage of the Indianapolis 500, with rookie Robert Shwartzman’s historic pole position at 232.790 mph and Callum Ilott’s respectable 23rd-place qualification at 230.704 mph. The team’s early struggles on road and street courses, where they often languished in the lower half of the 27-car field, exposed the challenges of adapting to IndyCar’s diverse demands. However, PREMA’s relentless focus on oval preparation, bolstered by Ilott’s experience and rigorous testing at tracks like Thermal and Barber, has begun to yield results, suggesting a stronger aptitude for ovals where setup and aerodynamics are paramount. 

As the checkered flag looms for the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025, PREMA Racing stands as an unexpected force, guided by sporting director Ryan Briscoe and reserve driver Romain Grosjean. Shwartzman’s composure under pressure and Ilott’s steady contribution have silenced doubters, positioning the team as contenders in a race defined by surprises. With their European precision and a steep learning curve behind them, PREMA’s breakthrough at Indy signals a potential turning point, setting the stage for an electrifying race day and a promising second half of the season.

... notes from The EDJE

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