In a day full of drama, surprises, and speed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, rookie sensation Robert Shwartzman stole the show, clinching pole position for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 with a stunning four-lap average of 232.790mph.
With no prior oval racing experience, the Prema Racing rookie shocked the paddock and became the first first-year driver to claim the Indy 500 pole since Teo Fabi in 1983.
But while the front row will feature a name few predicted, the Kiwi contingent faced a mixed day of fortunes.
Scott Dixon surged to fourth with a typically composed run in the Fast Six, Marcus Armstrong battled through Last Chance Qualifying to scrape into the field in 32nd, and Scott McLaughlin, after a heavy crash in practice, was unable to contend for the Top 12 and will line up 10th on the fourth row, a solid recovery considering the circumstances.
Last Chance Thriller: Armstrong Lives to Race Another Day
Tension was high as four drivers battled for the final three spots on the Indy 500 grid during Last Chance Qualifying.
Leading the session out was Kiwi driver Marcus Armstrong, who needed to put in a composed run after a tough week of practice.
The Kiwi rookie put together laps of 229.397, 229.403, 228.181, and 228.823mph, resulting in a 4-lap average of 229.091mph, just enough to put him 31st and inside the provisional grid.
Veteran Marco Andretti soon bumped Armstrong down a slot with a smooth and consistent run averaging 229.741mph, but Armstrong remained above the cutoff.
That left Dayle Coyle Racing teammates Jacob Abel and Rinus VeeKay in a desperate duel for the final spot. VeeKay’s early run of 227.740mph looked vulnerable, and Abel threw everything into a late run.
Abel’s final attempt faded rapidly, averaging only 226.394mph, confirming VeeKay’s place in the show and eliminating Abel from the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
Last Row for Indy 500:
- 31st – Marcus Armstrong (229.091mph)
- 32nd – Marco Andretti (229.741mph)
- 33rd – Rinus VeeKay (227.740mph)
- OUT – Jacob Abel (227.112mph)
Fast Six Fireworks: Rookie Rocket Lands on Pole
The drama didn’t end there. In the Fast Six shootout, where the top six drivers from the earlier rounds battled for pole, experience was trumped by youthful audacity.
Takuma Sato was first out and laid down a fiery 232.478mph average. Alex Palou, the current championship leader, couldn’t keep pace and faded with a 231.378mph.
Scott Dixon, the most decorated Kiwi in IndyCar history, stepped up with his signature consistency. His laps of 232.537, 232.092, 231.672, and 231.910mph averaged 232.052mph, putting him temporarily on the front row.
Then came the shock of the day.
Robert Shwartzman, the Russian rookie who had never raced on an oval before arriving in Indianapolis, delivered a masterclass in precision and poise. His laps of 233.166, 232.931, 232.279, and 232.785mph averaged 232.790mph, vaulting him to pole position for his Indy 500 debut.
Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist followed but couldn’t topple the rookie.
O’Ward edged Dixon to slot into third with a 232.098mph average, while Rosenqvist settled for fifth.
Fast Six – Starting Grid for Top 6
- Robert Shwartzman (Prema Racing) – 232.790mph
- Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) – 232.478mph
- Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) – 232.098mph
- Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) – 232.052mph
- Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Racing) – 231.987mph
- Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) – 231.378mph
Scott McLaughlin: Fast but Frustrated
Earlier in the day, Kiwi driver Scott McLaughlin was expected to challenge for a front-row start. But his hopes were dealt a cruel blow after a heavy crash in the morning practice session.
The Team Penske driver was sidelined from the Top 12 shootout as a result and was set to line up 12th for next weekend’s Indy 500.
Team Penske ran into further drama as Will Power and Josef Newgarden failed pre-qualifying tech inspections and had to pull out of qualifying. A silver lining is that McLaughlin moves to 10th place in the starting grid, as his teammates Newgarden will line up 11th and Power 12th.
While not where McLaughlin hoped to be, the Kiwi remains very much in the mix with a competitive car and strong oval pedigree.
It’s a tale of three fortunes for the New Zealanders heading into the 2025 Indy 500.
From a rookie rocket to veterans defying expectations, from crashes to comebacks, the 109th Indianapolis 500 promises to be one for the ages.
The green flag is set to drop for the race at 4:45 AM Monday, 26th May NZT.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment – Chris Owens
