Shwartzman shines in “legendary” debut oval qualifying at Indy

Credit: Chris Jones

Many feared the worst when IndyCar’s newest team, PREMA Racing, had neither or their two cars ready for the start of a delayed Indianapolis 500 practice session on Tuesday.

A combined 22 laps - from the 1549 run in total by the field - was all PREMA managed.

It was uncharacteristic for a team esteemed for their wide-ranging success on the Formula One ladder. But the manner in which they have turned things around throughout practice week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been supremely impressive.

Despite all of their European pedigree, PREMA is a novice team when it comes to oval racing. That is why it has been imperative that they log as many laps as possible - something that has been denied by various issues through practice sessions across the opening rounds of the team’s IndyCar venture.

But come qualifying weekend for the team’s debut Indy 500, a serious statement was made.

Callum Ilott brings three Indy 500s worth of driving experience but, on the other side of the garage, Robert Shwartzman is an oval rookie for an oval rookie team. Naturally, expectations were not all that lofty.

Who could have foreseen what was to come?

Since PREMA’s initial blip on Tuesday, both drivers have been competitive. Logic would have suggested the first-time team were favourites to have one of their drivers miss the cut for the 33-driver field from the 34 attempting to qualify. But throughout the week, both Ilott and Shwartzman have edged themselves firmly away from that conversation. 

Surely it would be a stretch for the debutants to threaten making the Fast 12 and being in the fight for a pole position though, right? As it transpires, not so right. And it was not the driver with oval experience who came to the fore, either.

Credit: Dominic Loyer

Running fourth in the order on the opening day of the qualifying weekend, Shwartzman delivered a stunning four-lap run. Not only had he never run a single qualifying lap on an oval, he had to put four together on a treacherous 2.5-mile superspeedway.

But the driver with an esteemed junior career on the F1 ladder flew out of the blocks with two laps over 233 mph. And with less than 1.3 mph of fall-off throughout his four laps, Shwartzman logged a stout 232.584 mph four-lap average.

It stood the test of time. After almost seven hours of qualifying, it held for sixth place.

Not only did Shwartzman make the Fast 12 for his maiden Indy 500 in his first-ever oval qualifying for a team completing their first-ever oval qualifying run, but he did so in utterly resounding fashion.

“I honestly did not expect it to go that well,” Shwartzman said. “We were gradually improving the car step by step. To have such a good run, I was like: ‘Okay, this car is really fast.’ Obviously it was really tricky. It’s the toughest qualifying of my career. 

“Four laps consecutive, focus… one slight mistake and you’re done. Definitely it was a big challenge for me. I’m happy that I managed to complete all four laps. It’s also a good thing, it’s the first [top-12 qualifying] of the team. We finally got a top 12, it’s here in Indy. 

“Quite a legendary moment for us. Pretty happy. The team did a really good job with engineering and mechanics. Everything was step-by-step without rushing things, making sure everything is right. That’s where it paid off.”

Credit: Dominic Loyer

Shwartzman had not set himself any lofty expectations. Especially considering tricky conditions prompting a number of crashes for drivers since the boost was turned up to qualifying level on Fast Friday, a clean run to safely make the field was the priority.

“My target was focus, gradually improve the car, the team, get few things and also learn at the same time,” he said. “I’m a rookie. Team is a rookie. We try to just find some pieces and if it works just to fix them, learn that’s how it worked. 

“Coming in qualifying, the expectation was I want to complete four laps. That was the only thing. Whatever I’m going to be, I’m going to be. I really wasn’t looking at it. I was just trying to get the confidence that I can drive this car fast and have it under control.”

There were glimmers of Shwartzman’s potential with a 231.295 mph best no-tow speed for 13th place on Fast Friday. This was in warmer, more unfavourable conditions too. 

So what was on the cards for qualifying on Saturday in cooler temperatures? That was Shwartzman’s question to his engineer on qualifying morning.

“I guess two miles an hour,” was the reply. 

Shwartzman did not buy it initially. But sure enough, his first qualifying lap was recorded at 233.230 mph - nigh on a whole 2 mph quicker than his fastest lap from Friday.

“I was like: ‘Damn, that’s optimistic… yesterday we showed 231,’” Shwartzman recalled. “The first lap I do, I’ll floor it. Whatever happens, happens. I see 233, I was like: ‘He was actually right. The car actually is fast.’”

Credit: John Cote

Even after finishing sixth, Shwartzman feels as though there is more to find balance wise to aid his comfort on the third and fourth laps of the run.

“I managed to hold it for two laps,” he said. “We were a bit too aggressive with balance. I started to lose a bit the rear. It was sketchy in the third and fourth lap. I just need to survive, just finish it. At the end, overall it just gave me the boost and understanding that the car is really fast. Honestly, going into the corner, the car is just holding on. 

“It just showed the car is really there. Obviously we still need to do some work to catch the top guys… I want to believe that we can battle for the top six.”

It truly was like nothing Shwartzman has ever done before. But he has embraced it.

“It’s not comparable,” he described. “It’s pretty clear that this is a very special qualifying. You never feel the same emotion. I was actually never really worried about qualifying in my entire life. Even when I drove F1 car practicing, I was calm. 

“Here when you go out, it’s full focus. Not even a slight second you have to relax. Normally in European tracks or quali, you have a moment of just breathe. Here it was one single breath, go… that’s it.”

Even finishing with Ilott in 23rd is a resounding success in itself, with PREMA coming under no threat of fighting simply not to miss the race. But the Shwartzman success, regardless of what may happen in the Fast 12, has rightly stolen the headlines.