Shwartzman becomes first rookie in 42 years to win Indy 500 pole

PREMA Racing driver Robert Shwartzman (83) waves to the crowd. Gary Mook/For IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Robert Shwartzman becomes first rookie in 42 years to win Indianapolis 500 pole

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated May 18, 2025 7:34 PM ET

For the first time in 42 years, a rookie will lead the field to the green flag in the Indianapolis 500.

With a four-lap average of 232.790 miles per hour around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 25-year-old Robert Shwartzman won the Indianapolis 500 pole in his first-ever qualifying session on an oval and became the first rookie since Teo Fabi in 1983 to win the pole for the Indy 500. It's only the second time a rookie has won the Indy 500 pole since 1951.

"It feels like I'm dreaming," Shwartzman told Fox Sports. "I can't believe it. It can't be true. I don't even know what to say."

THE ROOKIE DOES IT!

Robert Shwartzman wins the NTT P1 Award for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500! pic.twitter.com/EDQb0QMilz
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 18, 2025

Takuma Sato and Pato O' Ward will join Shwartzman on the front row, with Scott Dixon, Felix Rosenqvist and Alex Palou making up Row 2.

On a qualifying day filled with drama, Rinus VeeKay beat his Dale Coyne Racing teammate Jacob Abel in last-chance qualifying, bumping Abel out of the Indianapolis 500 field.

Meanwhile, trouble befell Team Penske, as Scott McLaughlin crashed in practice and Josef Newgarden and Will Power were both disqualified from qualifying in the Fast 12 session.

But the biggest story — and rightfully so — from qualifying will be the heroic, herculean effort of Schwartzman to make history and win the pole.

The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is slated for May 25, with coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET on FOX. Newgarden is the two-time defending winner.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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