Robert Shwartzman had already made Israeli history when he started his engine for time trials at the Indy 500. Four laps later, he made race history, too.
Shwartzman, the first Israeli driver to compete at the hallowed race grounds, won its preliminary round Sunday, taking four solo laps around the track at an average speed of 232 miles per hour, faster than any of the other 33 cars at Sunday’s time trials.
The win — the first by a rookie in 42 years, and only the fourth time ever — means Shwartzman, 25, will start the May 25 race at the front of the pack.
Judging by his reaction, he couldn’t quite believe it.
“I was closing my eyes, like this is a dream, it can’t be true,” he said afterward. “Honestly, I don’t know what even to say.”
ROBERT SHWARTZMAN.
YOUR #Indy500 POLE WINNER! pic.twitter.com/gFAbC0g2FC
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 18, 2025
Shwartzman, who was born in Tel Aviv but grew up in Russia and Italy, has competed under an Israeli racing license since the 2022 season, when he made the switch from Russia partly due to racing association sanctions on the country related to the war in Ukraine.
He has said that he has no plans to switch back, even if the sanctions are revoked.
“I knew, always, that I was born in Israel and that I have Jewish blood inside me… I never said I’m only this or only that,” Shwartzman said in 2023. “[Switching to an Israeli license] just gave me a good feeling… It felt comfortable, like it was always there.”
At the time, he was a Formula driver, which like IndyCar features open-wheel, open-cockpit cars but competes on road courses. He switched to the world of ovals when his Formula team, Prema Racing, decided to break into the IndyCar series. Shwartzman’s pole win Sunday was also Prema’s first.
If he takes the checkered flag next Sunday, Shwartzman would be the second Jewish driver to win the Indy 500. Auto Racing Hall of Famer Mauri Rose won it for the third time in 1948.
