IndyCar President Doug Boles Praised PREMA Racing for Being an Integral Part of the Series’ History Right from Its Rookie Season When Robert Shwartzman, Who Had Never Driven Around an Oval Before Making His IndyCar Debut, Earned an Impressive Pole Position at the 109th Indianapolis 500
In the high-stakes world of open-wheel racing, where precision meets unpredictability, few moments capture the essence of the sport like a debutant’s triumph on the grandest stage. This year, as the 109th Indianapolis 500 etched another chapter into its storied legacy, IndyCar President Doug Boles found himself reflecting on just such a miracle. Speaking at a recent series event, Boles lauded PREMA Racing not merely as newcomers, but as architects of history. “From the moment they hit the track, PREMA has been integral to our narrative,” Boles said, his voice carrying the weight of admiration for a team that turned skepticism into spectacle. At the heart of this fairy tale was Robert Shwartzman, a 30-year-old driver whose path to the Brickyard was as unconventional as it was inspiring. With zero prior experience on an oval—a track type that demands a unique blend of bravery and finesse—Shwartzman clinched the pole position, averaging a blistering 232.790 mph over four laps in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet. It was a feat that silenced doubters and ignited conversations across the motorsport community, marking the first time a rookie had claimed the top spot since Teo Fabi in 1983.
PREMA Racing’s entry into IndyCar for the 2025 season was no small gamble. Founded in 1983 in Italy, the outfit had built an empire in junior formulas, nurturing talents like Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri into Formula 1 stardom. Yet transitioning to the NTT IndyCar Series meant confronting a steep learning curve: adapting to the DW12 chassis, mastering superspeedway dynamics, and competing against established juggernauts like Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing. Financial whispers had swirled before their debut, with rumors of sponsorship shortfalls and operational hurdles casting shadows over their ambitious U.S. expansion. They even constructed a state-of-the-art facility in Speedway, Indiana, a bold investment amid economic pressures that have plagued smaller teams. But PREMA’s leadership, including key hires like engineers Guillaume Gue and Felix Leichtle, proved their mettle. “We came here to win, not just to participate,” team principal René Rosin had declared earlier in the year, a statement that now rings prophetic.
Shwartzman’s journey to that fateful qualifying day on May 18 was a mosaic of resilience and reinvention. Born in Israel and raised partly in Russia, he held an Israeli racing license but carried the scars of a nomadic career. A Ferrari Driver Academy alum, Shwartzman had tantalized F1 circles with his speed in Formula 2, where he clinched the 2020 title. But the dream soured; Ferrari’s doors closed, and he bounced through endurance racing and sportscars, even enduring personal tragedy with the loss of his father in 2022. IndyCar offered redemption. Signed by PREMA alongside American Jacob Abel, Shwartzman arrived stateside with a reputation for raw talent but oval inexperience. His early season was a grind: mechanical gremlins, including a fiery practice mishap at St. Petersburg, left him mid-pack in points. Teammate Abel fared little better, scraping into the Indy 500 field via the Last Row Qualifying. Yet, as qualifying weekend unfolded at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something shifted. Shwartzman’s Firestone Fast Six run was poetry in motion—flawless lines through Turns 1 and 2, unyielding throttle on the straights. “I closed my eyes; it felt like a dream,” he admitted post-run, disbelief mingling with elation. Sharing the front row with veterans Takuma Sato and Pato O’Ward, he embodied the Indy 500’s magic: where underdogs rewrite scripts.
Boles’ praise, delivered amid ongoing series discussions, underscored PREMA’s broader impact. In a season marred by financial flux—exacerbated by the lack of a guaranteed charter spot, which secures entry and revenue—PREMA’s pole was a beacon. “They’re working incredibly hard to stay on the grid,” Boles noted in October, addressing exit rumors fueled by ballooning costs and elusive title sponsors. Without a charter, teams like PREMA face annual qualification battles, a vulnerability that has seen outfits like Meyer Shank Racing falter. Yet Shwartzman’s pole injected vitality, boosting merchandise sales and fan engagement. Social media erupted: Will Buxton hailed him as a “superstar F1 spurned,” while James Hinchcliffe quipped it was absent from his “Indy 500 bingo card.” Townsend Bell, a two-time Indy 500 starter, marveled at the “rookie team, rookie driver, oval novice” trifecta. Even in the race itself, Shwartzman’s charge from pole to a top-10 finish—despite a late caution scramble—affirmed his mettle, though the checkered flag went to a more seasoned hand.
As the 2025 season winds down, PREMA’s rookie year stands as a testament to audacity. Shwartzman sits 14th in the standings, with podium whispers at road courses like Road America. Abel, meanwhile, has shown flashes, his Last Row survival at Indy a gritty footnote. But the pole remains the crown jewel, a moment Boles invoked to rally the series’ spirit. “Stories like this remind us why IndyCar thrives—pure, unfiltered racing,” he said. For Shwartzman, it’s personal vindication. “PREMA believed when others didn’t,” he reflected recently, eyes on 2026. Rumors persist: potential mergers, charter pursuits, even a driver swap with Callum Ilott eyed for stability. Yet in Speedway’s shadow, optimism lingers. PREMA didn’t just arrive; they announced themselves, oval lights blazing. In a sport where history favors the bold, their debut pole ensures they’ll be remembered not as interlopers, but as indelible.
