Robert Shwartzman says not being in Indy 500 is 'pretty tough' with Prema off the grid

TL;DR

Robert Shwartzman will not compete in this year's Indianapolis 500 due to Prema Racing's operations being paused while seeking new ownership. He expressed disappointment about watching from the sidelines.

Key points

Robert Shwartzman will not compete in the Indy 500 this year
Prema Racing's operations are paused while seeking new ownership
Shwartzman won the pole position last year as a rookie

Prema RacingIndianapolis 500Robert ShwartzmanCallum Ilott

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."

Shwartzman's shocking qualifying performance last year made him the first rookie to win the pole since Teo Fabi in 1983. Shwartzman placed 26th in the race after colliding with his pit crew members and the pit wall following a brake failure. The impact of the crash took him out of the race after 87 laps.

The 26-year-old Shwartzman has done no racing this year after finishing 24th in the IndyCar championship last season. Ilott is competing with Wright Motorsports in the GTD class of the IMSA Sportscar Championship, which he planned to do alongside IndyCar this year.

In April, IndyCar revealed that beginning in 2027, it will not allow teams that aren't chartered to enter any races that aren't the Indy 500. Prema, in its debut season in 2025, was the only full-time team that didn't have a charter as IndyCar introduced its charter system ahead of the 2025 season.

Q&A

Why is Robert Shwartzman not racing in the Indianapolis 500 this year?

Robert Shwartzman is not racing in the Indianapolis 500 because Prema Racing's IndyCar operation is paused as they search for a new owner or investor.

What was Robert Shwartzman's qualifying performance in last year's Indy 500?

Last year, Robert Shwartzman won the pole position, becoming the first rookie to do so since Teo Fabi in 1983.

What happened to Robert Shwartzman during last year's Indy 500 race?

During last year's race, Shwartzman collided with his pit crew and the pit wall due to a brake failure, which resulted in him finishing 26th after 87 laps.