Robert Shwartzman says not being in Indy 500 is 'pretty tough' with Prema off the grid
Robert Shwartzman, 2025 Indy 500 pole winner, will not race this year as Prema Racing's IndyCar operation is on pause. Shwartzman reacted to being out of the race on X.
Before qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 even begins, it's known that a different driver will be on the pole this year than in 2025. That's because Robert Shwartzman, who won the pole driving the No. 83 Chevrolet for Prema Racing, won't be in the race.
Prema's IndyCar operation is on pause as the team's ownership group, DC Racing Solutions, searches for a new owner or investor. As a result, Shwartzman and teammate Callum Ilott have not raced in IndyCar this year and will not be in the Indy 500. "Watching from the sidelines this year is pretty tough, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I was back in the car," Shwartzman posted to in a statement on X Friday afternoon.
"I’ll never take the chance I had to qualify and race here for granted. I hope to be back out there fighting for it again one day. Until then, I’ll be watching.
" Those four laps in qualifying... honestly, nothing else even comes close. This place is just different, there’s nowhere else like it also for everything it demands from us drivers.