• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Photo Galleries
  • Gift Guides
  • About
  • Contact
    • Event Submission
  • FAQs

Naptown Buzz

Your Source for All Things Indy!

  • Indy News
    • Public Works
    • Weather
  • Community
    • Festivals
    • Indiana State Fairgrounds
      • Indiana State Fair
  • Sports
    • Autosport
      • INDYCAR
        • Indy 500
      • INDY NXT
    • Baseball
      • Indianapolis Indians
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Music
      • Concerts
  • Living
    • Books
    • Food & Drink
    • Games
  • Business
    • Indiana Business

Robert Shwartzman and PREMA Racing Stun Indy 500 with Historic Pole Win

May 18, 2025 by Naptown Buzz

In a stunning upset, rookie Robert Shwartzman and first-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES team PREMA Racing claimed the NTT P1 Award for the 109th Indianapolis 500 (ad) presented by Gainbridge on May 18, 2025. Shwartzman, in his first-ever oval race, became the first rookie to win the Indy 500 (ad) pole since 1983, with a four-lap average speed of 232.790 mph in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet during the Firestone Fast Six.

“This is a dream; it can’t be true,” said Shwartzman. “The car felt amazing. I can’t thank PREMA and Chevy enough.” PREMA, new to INDYCAR, is the first team to win the pole in its debut since 1984.

Takuma Sato (232.478 mph) and Pato O’Ward (232.098 mph) will join Shwartzman on the front row. Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alex Palou complete the second row. The race airs at 10 a.m. ET on May 25 on FOX, FOX Deportes, and the FOX Sports app.

Despite early struggles, Shwartzman’s team made steady improvements, culminating in a dramatic pole-winning run. Meanwhile, Team Penske faced setbacks with Josef Newgarden and Will Power relegated to Row 4 due to technical violations, alongside Scott McLaughlin, who starts 10th after a crash.

Marco Andretti, Marcus Armstrong, and Rinus VeeKay secured the final spots in Last Chance Qualifying, while Jacob Abel narrowly missed the field. The next practice is Monday, May 19, from 1-3 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Sports app). Visit IMS.com for tickets and details.

Filed Under: Autosport, Indy 500, INDYCAR, Sports Tagged With: 109th Indianapolis 500, 109th Indy 500, 2025 Indianapolis 500, 2025 Indy 500, 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy 500, INDYCAR, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Pato O’Ward, Pole Winner, PREMA Racing, Robert Shwartzman, Takuma Sato

Primary Sidebar

Al Unser Jr

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Omaha Storm Chasers vs Indianapolis Indians Photo Gallery (August 6, 2025)
  • 2025 Indiana State Fair Unaccompanied Minor Policy Updated
  • 2025 Indiana State Fair Free Stage Lineup
  • 2025 Taste of the Fair Foods
  • Brickyard 400 pres. by PPG Race Day Schedule for Sunday, July 27, 2025

Indiana Chronicle Stranger Things

Indiana Chronicle featured on Stranger Things
Indiana Chronicle featured on Stranger Things

RSS Indiana Chronicle

  • Road closure to impact State Road 42 in Clay County July 21, 2025
  • Closure planned on State Road 56 west of Salem June 17, 2025
  • Evansville: Opening of Redesigned Stockwell Road Intersection June 17, 2025
  • Two Arrested for Shoplifting by Off Duty Trooper June 12, 2025
  • S.R. 13 to close for construction on the Indiana Toll Road June 2, 2025
  • Road closure to impact U.S. 150 in western Vigo County June 2, 2025
  • Indiana State Police Investigating Death at Howard County Jail May 27, 2025
  • Paul Skenes to Represent Team USA in 2026 World Baseball Classic May 13, 2025
  • Purdue Football Announces 2025 Notre Dame Showdown Kickoff Time May 13, 2025
  • Closure planned on State Road 356 in Jefferson County May 5, 2025