Prema Racing: Discover the 2025 Indy 500 Polesitters

Prema Racing stunned the IndyCar world by capturing the pole for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, a first for the Italian organization on its debut at the famous oval. Robert Shwartzman, a rookie in this series but no stranger to open-wheel racing, led the charge for Prema Racing.

Shwartzman posted a four-lap average of 232.790 mph, becoming the first rookie to win the Indy 500 pole since Teo Fabi in 1983. The team, which entered IndyCar at the start of the 2025 season with a two-car effort, was viewed as an underdog, especially after opening rounds with no starts higher than 16th place and top finishes outside of the points.

Image credit: www.the-race.com

Founded in 1983, Prema Racing has built a reputation in Europe’s junior formulas by winning more than 40 driver titles and a similar number of team championships across 30 racing divisions. Many of today’s top drivers developed their skills under the Prema banner, including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri, both Formula 1 stars. For more on the history of junior formula racing, visit the FIA’s official site.

Indy 500 pole winner Shwartzman, plus Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong, are among the 2025 starters who previously won championships with Prema. Their alumni also include Mick Schumacher and Pierre Gasly, who found success in F2 and later moved to F1, as well as top Indy NXT and endurance racing drivers.

By the start of the 2010s, Prema was dominating Formula 3. The team won every European Formula 3 team title from 2013 through 2018. To learn more about Formula 3’s evolution, check out Wikipedia’s Formula 3 page.

They captured the F2 championship with Leclerc in 2017, Schumacher in 2020, and Piastri in 2021. In F3, Prema drivers took three straight titles from 2019 to 2021.

The team also enjoyed victory in the Macau Grand Prix in 2011, 2013, and 2015, one of the most prestigious events in junior formula racing. Beyond single-seaters, Prema expanded to sports car racing, winning the 2022 European Le Mans Series title in LMP2 and earning a podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours. For details on Le Mans history, explore the official 24 Hours of Le Mans site.

Prema’s jump into American open-wheel racing was not expected to produce instant results. Their first five races saw qualifying struggles and finishes outside the top 15, with Shwartzman and teammate Callum Ilott searching for speed.

On the biggest stage, they managed a turnaround, going from a best start of 16th straight to the front of the Indy 500 grid. Helping the engineering group is Eric Leichtle, who brings high-level experience from both Team Penske and SpaceX.

The 2025 Indy 500 qualifying session was full of drama. Two-time winner Takuma Sato secured a spot on the front row alongside Shwartzman, qualifying at 232.478 mph.

Image credit: www.the-race.com

Pato O’Ward completed the front row at 232.098 mph. In a blow to Team Penske, both Josef Newgarden and Will Power lost their starting positions near the front due to rule violations involving the rear accentuator, a technical part found to have been modified. This penalty was widely reported and discussed in detail here.

Each driver was moved to the back of the grid and issued a major fine, shaking up the starting order for the race. Other well-known names who made the field include Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alex Palou, the latter leading the IndyCar points standings after strong performances earlier in the year. For the latest IndyCar standings, visit IndyCar’s official site.

Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske also qualified in the top ten despite a practice crash that forced him to use a backup car. The grid was completed by Marcus Armstrong and Rinus VeeKay, while Jacob Abel missed out after a late drop in speed during the final day of qualifying.

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 field highlights the international nature of current IndyCar, with drivers from various backgrounds and previous racing series. Shwartzman’s pole not only marks a rare rookie achievement but also adds another major honor to Prema Racing’s lengthy list of accomplishments.

Their rapid rise on American ovals echoes their years of dominance in Europe, and the team now faces the ultimate test: converting pole position into victory at one of motorsport’s biggest events. Fans can watch the 109th running of the Indy 500 on Sunday, May 25, with coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET. For historical context on the Indy 500, see the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s official history page.

The following week will show if Prema Racing’s success in qualifying can be repeated in the race itself. With a packed field and plenty of storylines, this year’s Indy 500 promises to bring even more surprises when the green flag waves. Team Penske’s challenges during qualifying, including the handling of driver Will Power’s situation, have added extra drama to this year’s event, as detailed here.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.