Overview

• Robert Shwartzman claimed pole position for the 109th Indianapolis 500, becoming the first rookie to do so in 42 years.
• This achievement marks a major milestone for Prema Racing, a debuting team in the 2025 IndyCar season, following early mechanical struggles.
• Shwartzman, a former Formula 3 champion and Formula 1 reserve driver, is transitioning his focus fully to IndyCar success.
• The addition of engineer Eric Leichtle, formerly with Team Penske, played a pivotal role in optimizing Prema's qualifying performance.
• Veteran competitors Pato O’Ward and Takuma Sato, who join Shwartzman on the front row, praised his professionalism and impact on the series.