Rookie Robert Shwartzman earns shock Indy 500 pole with Prema Racing

At the start of the week at Indianapolis, Prema Racing was at the very bottom of the time sheets as they struggled to get the cars ready. But that seems like a different universe now as the rookie driver and rookie IndyCar team have done the unthinkable, earning pole position for the 109th running of the Indy 500 — their first oval race.

Robert Shwartzman, a 25-year-old from Israel, is the first rookie to earn pole for IndyCar’s crown jewel event in 42 years. He will share the front row with two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato, and Pato O’Ward will fill out the front row in third. Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alex Palou will fill out Row 2 for the Indy 500.

“No, honestly I can’t believe it,” Shwartzman told IndyCar on FOX. “I was closing my eyes like this is a dream, it can’t be true. Honestly, I don’t know what even to say. The car felt amazing, like honestly, I can’t thank Prema and Chevy (enough). They did such a good job. It’s unbelievable. Coming here for my first oval race, I would never expect myself to be in this position. It’s unbelievable. Big thanks to everybody.”

Fast 6 and Fast 12

Sato took provisional pole early in the Fast 6 round with a 232.478mph, holding off the Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Dixon and Palou. But it was not meant to be Sato’s first pole in the 500 as a shocking upset emerged from Prema Racing. He managed to fend off O’Ward and Rosenqvist as well, securing P1 in a truly incredible story.

As for the Fast 12, it actually only featured nine drivers following some drama for the Team Penske trio. It began with Scott McLaughlin’s airborne crash in morning practice, which completely destroyed his No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet.

The drama continued as the other two Penske cars were abruptly pulled out of the Fast 12 qualifying line. As it turns out, an issue was found in pre-qualifying inspection involving the rear attenuator of Josef Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevrolet. The same issue existed on Will Power’s No. 12 Chevrolet and Penske attempted to fix it in the pit lane. However, these modifications were not allowed and they were denied a shot at the Indy 500 pole.

As for the drivers that were allowed to go out, the battle for the final transfer spot came down to David Malukas and Palou, but there was little Malukas could do as the championship leader vaulted himself into the Fast 6. He joined Rosenqvist, O’Ward, Schwartzman, Dixon, and Sato in the fight for pole.

Starting seventh will be Malukas, eighth Christian Lundgaard will be and ninth will be 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson. McLaughlin will start 10th, Power 11th, and Newgarden 12th in an all-Penske Row 4.