Robert Shwartzman Shocks with Historic Indy 500 Pole Position

INDIANAPOLIS — In a remarkable upset during the Indianapolis 500 qualifying, rookie Robert Shwartzman, competing in his first oval race ever, claimed the pole position for next weekend’s event.

The 25-year-old, who previously pursued a career in Formula One and is now with the startup team Prema Racing, managed to outpace seasoned IndyCar competitors with a four-lap average speed of 232.790 mph, surpassing the 232.478 mph average of two-time Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato.

Shwartzman expressed his disbelief as he celebrated with his team, becoming the first rookie to secure the Indy 500 pole in 42 years. “It feels like I’m dreaming,” he remarked, adding that the car felt incredible during the qualifying runs.

The Israeli-Russian driver is only the second rookie to achieve pole position since 1950, making his accomplishment even more stunning given his lack of experience on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I would never have expected to be in this position… I’m just trying to appreciate this moment,” he said.

Previously a Ferrari reserve driver, Shwartzman has seen success in Formula 3 and finished second in Formula 2. Although he had participated in various F1 practice sessions, he described the Indy 500 qualifying as his most mentally taxing experience to date.

Despite Shwartzman’s triumph, Takuma Sato was a close contender for the pole, expressing joy for his team’s performance. Sato is making a one-off appearance this year, racing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which is partially owned by David Letterman.

In a surprising twist, Team Penske found themselves sidelined from the front row after two of their cars faced a technical violation during qualifying. This left the team, which had expected to be competitive, absent from the pole lineup entirely. With the ongoing excitement, other racers, including Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta, faced their own challenges but managed to qualify successfully.