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

“A dream come true” is not a cliché for Robert Shwartzman.

For the 25-year-old IndyCar driver, becoming the first rookie to start on pole at the Indianapolis 500 in 42 years is an improbable, literal dream come true.

“It was just a dream for me this week,” the Israeli-born, Russian-raised driver told Local 4’s “Sports Final Edition” after qualifying up front with a four-lap average of 232.790 mph Sunday evening. “I still don’t know how I made it happen, and it’s not only me, it’s the team. We’ve worked really hard, and I would never expect to be here in this position.”

Shwartzman’s run ranks among the most shocking underdog stories in recent memory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The first rookie to win pole since Teo Fabi in 1983 had never competed on an oval until this week. His team, PREMA Racing, is brand new to the NTT IndyCar Series.

Both he and teammate Callum Illott missed out on significant track time in their first practice sessions because they were behind on preparations and never slotted higher than 28th before Friday.

And yet, their performance came together one corner, one qualifying lap, one session at a time.

“We’ve had a really good approach,” the driver of the No. 83 Chevrolet said. “Steady. Step by step, we improved the car, and the car was flawless. The last round, it was something that I will definitely remember for the rest of my life—all four laps, just flat out on the edge. When I saw that we took the pole position, I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.”

Shwartzman and PREMA tout a best finish of 18th in five races this season. Despite their inexperience in the series, PREMA boasts an impressive resume overseas, as does the man set to lead to field to green.

Prior to his debut in America, Shwartzman spent multiple seasons as a reserve driver in Formula 1 with Ferrari and Sauber, winning eight races and a championship in two of F1’s feeder series, Formula 2 and Formula 3. He also appeared in the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year.

Those accolades prove his worth, but he knows he’ll have plenty to prove to himself in an unfamiliar environment next Sunday.

“The pressure is going to be the fact that I’m going to do my first ever oval race,” Shwartzman admitted. “I have already a general understanding of how to do my job. But here, everything is new. I’m leading the pack. I’m going to start first. There’s a lot of homework to do now to prepare myself.”

Counting Ray Harroun in the inaugural race in 1911, only ten rookies have won the Indianapolis 500. Just four have achieved the feat since 1929.

Race fans have still come to expect the unexpected. Faced with an unexpected triumph of his own already, the newcomer leading 11 rows of three to green isn’t setting his own expectations higher than necessary.

“I don’t want to put on too much pressure,” Shwartzman added. “I don’t know exactly how you overtake, how you defend, what is the strategy? I will try to analyze how you should do it, just try to stick up front for 200 laps, and then we’ll see if the car is going to be good.

“Maybe I’ll have a chance to not only take pole position, but also the race.”

That, too, would be a dream come true.