Rookie Sensation Robert Shwartzman Secures Pole Position for 2025 Indy 500

The 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge looks set to be a wild spectacle, especially with rookie driver Robert Shwartzman and his PREMA Racing team at the center of it all. The young driver from Tel Aviv, Israel, stunned everyone by grabbing pole position in his first-ever oval race—a rookie hasn’t done that since 1983.

This achievement shakes up the grid for race day on May 25th. Shwartzman will lead a hungry pack of veterans and up-and-comers.

The Unlikely Hero: Robert Shwartzman

Robert Shwartzman’s rise to pole position feels almost unreal. He piloted the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet to a four-lap average of 232.790 mph during the Firestone Fast Six, locking in the NTT P1 Award.

PREMA Racing, usually a force in European racing, made its INDYCAR SERIES debut in style. The team became the first since 1984 to earn the Indy 500 pole in its very first try.

From Humble Beginnings to Pole Position

Shwartzman’s road to the front wasn’t smooth. The PREMA crew, with Shwartzman and teammate Callum Ilott, struggled early, logging just 22 laps combined on day one of practice.

Things got better from there. Shwartzman climbed from 33rd on the opening day up to 13th on Fast Friday, when the teams cranked up the horsepower.

He managed to secure a spot in the Top 12 Qualifying session by finishing sixth on the first day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying. Then, he placed third in the Top 12 before pulling off that jaw-dropping pole run.

Front Row Lineup: A Blend of Experience and Youth

Flanking Shwartzman on the front row, you’ve got two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward. Sato, driving the No. 75 AMADA Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, clocked in at 232.478 mph for second.

O’Ward, in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, took third with a 232.098 mph run. Not a bad mix at the front, honestly.

Veterans and Rising Stars

The second row’s stacked, too. There’s 2008 winner Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, and three-time champ Alex Palou.

Dixon, in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, qualified fourth at 232.052 mph. Rosenqvist grabbed fifth in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda, while Palou, who leads the points, settled into sixth with the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Last Chance Qualifying: High Stakes and Drama

The Last Chance Qualifying session brought some real tension. Marco Andretti, Marcus Armstrong, and Rinus VeeKay snagged the final three spots in the 33-car grid.

Andretti, grandson of 1969 Indy 500 winner Mario Andretti, will start 31st in the No. 98 MAPEI/Curb Honda. Armstrong, bouncing back from a crash, took 32nd in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda, and VeeKay squeezed into the last slot in the No. 18 askROI Honda.

Heartbreak for Jacob Abel

Jacob Abel, Shwartzman’s rookie teammate, just missed out on making the field. His last shot in the No. 75 Miller High Life Honda came up short at 226.394 mph.

After a solid week, something clearly went wrong with his speed at the worst moment. That’s racing, I guess.

Team Penske’s Troubles

Team Penske hit a wall—figuratively and literally—during Top 12 Qualifying. Josef Newgarden and Will Power couldn’t make their runs after INDYCAR flagged an unapproved rear body fit on their cars.

Scott McLaughlin also crashed hard in Turn 2 during pre-qualifying practice, which dropped him to the fourth row. Not the weekend they’d hoped for.

Row 4 Lineup

Even with all that, the three Penske drivers will start together in Row 4. Their starting spots come from their first-day speeds in PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying.

McLaughlin lines up 10th in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden takes 11th in the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO Team Penske Chevrolet, and Power sits 12th in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Looking Ahead: Race Day Excitement

The stage is set for an electrifying Indianapolis 500. We’ve got a mix of seasoned champions and promising newcomers all chasing that victory.

Monday’s practice session runs from 1-3 p.m. ET. Teams will squeeze in a last chance to fine-tune their setups before the big race.

Fans are buzzing with anticipation as race day approaches. The story of Robert Shwartzman and PREMA Racing highlights just how unpredictable and thrilling motorsport can get.

Curious for more? Check out the official INDYCAR website for updates and details.