Robert Shwartzman made history Sunday at Indianapolis Speedway becoming the first rookie in more than 40 years to win the pole for the Indy 500.
Shwartzman posted the fastest four-lap average in the Indy 500 Fast Six on the final day of qualifying for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, outdueling a two-time Indy 500 winner, the reigning IndyCar champion and one of the best drivers in series history in the process.
Driving for Prema Racing, which is in its first year of IndyCar Series racing, Shwartzman averaged 232.790 mph in his No. 83 Chevrolet over his four qualifying laps to become the first rookie to qualify for the pole position since Teo Fabi in 1983.
‘Honestly, it feels like I’m dreaming,’ the 25-year-old Israeli native said after his history-making performance sunk in. ‘The car felt amazing, so fast.’
Takuma Sato, who won the Indy 500 in 2017, posted the second-fastest time and two-time runner-up Pato O’Ward took third to join Shwartzman on the front row for next Sunday’s race. Six-time series champion Scott Dixon, whose 58 IndyCar wins rank second in history, will start fourth. He will be joined on the second row by Felix Rosenqvist, who finished fifth, and two-tine reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who finished sixth.
Tony Stewart started first in the 1996 Indy 500 after pole-winning driver Scott Brayton died in post-qualifying practice.
INDY 500 STARTING GRID: Complete guide to 33-car lineup for 2025 race
Indy 500 Fast Six qualifying
Six drivers get one attempt each. The fastest earns pole position for the 2025 Indy 500. Takuma Sato went first and Felix Rosenqvist last.
(83) Robert Shwartzman, Prema, Chevrolet, 232.790
(75) Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, Honda, 232.478
(5) Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 232.098
(9) Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.052
(60) Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank, Honda, 231.987
(10) Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 231.378
Who is Indy 500 pole winner Robert Shwartzman?
Robert Shwartzman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and grew up in Italy. An endurance racing veteran and a former Formula 1 test driver, Shwartzman made his NTT IndyCar Series debut in March and has never raced on an oval before.
Driver profile
Age: 25
Nationality: Israel
Hometown: Tel Aviv, Israel
Car number: 90
Race team: Prema Racing
Engine: Chevrolet
Best 2024 finishes: Shwartzman competed in the World Endurance Championship, winning the Lone Star Le Mans event in Austin, Texas.
Robert Shwartzman 2025 IndyCar results
Schwartzman, in his rookie season, has made five starts in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2025. Here are his results:
St. Petersburg (street race): 20th
Thermal (road course): 22nd
Long Beach (street race): 18th
Barber (road course): 25th
Indianapolis road course: 18th
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
