Shwartzman Takes Pole for Indianapolis 500, Signaling A New Era for PREMA
INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing has secured pole position for the 107th Indianapolis 500, marking a significant milestone for both the driver and the team. This achievement comes as PREMA enters its first oval race in IndyCar, transitioning from a storied history in European racing series to the demands of American motorsport.
Having never raced on an oval before, Shwartzman’s performance reshapes the expectations for PREMA, which had faced challenges in its IndyCar debut. Team Sporting Advisor Ryan Briscoe expressed his elation, stating, "Such a phenomenal achievement for the whole team. It’s been a really difficult start… to show up and then to try to be half-competitive is even more work."
Briscoe emphasized the challenges of adapting the team’s existing European engineering knowledge to the intricacies of IndyCar. He described the arduous process of building their setup amidst tight schedules: "We were trying to be competitive, but none of us dreamed of being on pole in our first year."
The day before qualifying, the PREMA team focused more on optimizing their qualifying speed rather than extensive race preparations. Briscoe highlighted an early confidence in their setup, noting, “We got to a very happy place early on with his setup,” and reflected on their efforts throughout the week to extract maximum performance.
Shwartzman secured his pole position after a strong qualifying run in the fast six, where predictions indicated they could reach speeds above 233 mph. The team’s meticulous preparation paid off, as Briscoe noted, “We were P6 at the end of Saturday… I was feeling pretty confident."
Briscoe, a former pole winner himself, provided Shwartzman with strategic advice for the race: “Keep it simple… the most important thing is, let’s get through Turns 1 and 2, and then get on with it." He cautioned about the learning curve Shwartzman faces, especially concerning the unique demands of oval racing.
With the polesitter’s advantage of controlling the race start, Shwartzman’s strategy will be crucial: "As long as there’s not a miss-shift or overboost… he should lead the field into Turn 1."
Briscoe concluded by emphasizing the momentum gained from this achievement as crucial for PREMA’s ongoing development in IndyCar: "It’s a huge motivator for everyone… We are still trying to piece it all together but we’ve been knocking on the door."
As the team gears up for the Indy 500, the focus will be on leveraging this historic moment into sustained competitive performance throughout the season.
