Robert Shwartzman posted a four-lap average speed of 232.790 mph in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet during the Firestone Fast Six yesterday at the Indianapolis brickyard in Speedway Indiana. PREMA joined the NTT IndyCar Series this season after years of success in European racing, became the first team to claim the 500 pole in its first attempt since Mayer Motor Racing with driver Tom Sneva took the pole in 1984. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato (Honda) and Pato O’Ward (Chevrolet) will join Shwartzman on the front row for the 109th running of the race this Sunday 25 May.*

“I was like, ‘This is a dream; it can’t be true,” Robert Shwartzman said. “I don’t know what even to say. The car felt amazing. I can’t thank PREMA and Chevy. Coming here for my first oval race, I would never even expect it to be in this position. It’s unbelievable.”

The remainder of the so-called Firestone Fast Six participants will comprise the second row. The 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon will start fourth after his run of 232.052 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Felix Rosenqvist qualified fifth at 231.987 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian. Three-time series champion and current points leader Alex Palou, who has won four of the first five races this season, qualified sixth at 231.378 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

The PREMA team of Shwartzman and teammate Callum Ilott, completed only 22 laps combined on the opening day of practice Tuesday 13 May because they were behind on preparations for their first “500” and first oval race. Shwartzman was 33rd fastest out of the 34 drivers on opening day, improving to only 28th Wednesday and falling to 32nd Thursday. However on Fast Friday presented by Turtle Wax when engine boost levels and horsepower were increased, he placed 13th. Next on the first day of PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, Shwartzman drove into the Top 12 Qualifying session by ending up sixth. He improved to third at 232.008 in the Top 12 Qualifying session earlier Sunday before his pole run. This year marks the first Indy 500 to be run with Hybrid power. The system, designed in collaboration with Honda Racing Corporation USA and Ilmor, was introduced in July of 2024.

“I have to say big thanks to my engineers,” Shwartzman said. “They did an amazing job, step by step, by improving the car, trying new things. All of these steps that we did were just better, better, better. And then got to a point where the car was really good.”