Learn about the four drivers in the 109th Indy 500 Rookie Class: Nolan Siegel, Jacob Abel, Louis Foster, and Robert Shwartzman.
Introducing The 109th Indianapolis 500 Rookie Class
The 109th Indianapolis 500 is just a couple of days away, so what a perfect time to introduce and learn more about the 2025 Indy 500 Rookie class and their first-ever starting spots in the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’.
This class includes four drivers with different racing backgrounds, but they have already made a surprisingly strong impression. So let’s dive into these drivers.
Robert Shwartzman
- Age: 25
- Indy 500 qualifying: Pole position, 232.790
- Car number: 90
- Race team: Prema Racing
- Engine: Chevrolet
Robert Schwartzman surprised everyone by qualifying on pole, with a four-lap average of 232.790 mph around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in Fast Six qualifying. He is the first rookie to earn a pole since 1983. This performance was especially impressive considering this week was his first time driving on an oval.
Robert Shwartzman! What a run by the rookie. #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/WY1hysycns
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2025
Shwartzman came over from Europe, racing in series like Formula 3, Formula 2, and even serving as the Ferrari reserve driver for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Shwartzman also competed in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship for AF Corse alongside Yifei Ye and Robert Kubica.
His success in the Formula series and riding the high from starting in the best position in the most important race of the year should give him some confidence for his first-ever oval race.
READ MORE: Robert Shwartzman Becomes First Rookie Indy 500 Pole Sitter in 43 Years
Louis Foster
- Age: 21
- Indy 500 qualifying: 20th, 231.058 mph
- Car number: 45
- Race team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
- Engine: Honda
The 2024 Indy NXT champion, Louis Foster, is one of three NXT graduates in this year’s class. In his first ‘500’ qualifying, Foster posted a 231.058 mph speed average on day one of qualifying 20th for a starting place on Row 8 – but with the dropping of two of the Penske drivers, he will start on the seventh row.
The Brit is coming off his best qualifying and finishing performance in his short Indy career, where he qualified 3rd and finished 11th in the Indianapolis road course race on May 10. Foster has proven his talent in NXT, has made the jump to IndyCar, and has put up some impressive performances, but the speedway is a whole different story.
Nolan Siegel
- Age: 20
- Indy 500 qualifying: 24th, 230.917
- Car number: 6
- Race team: Arrow McLaren
- Engine: Chevrolet
This isn’t Nolan Siegel‘s first year participating in the Indy 500 festivities, but it is his first time being able to race. Last year, Siegel had a tough go around in his first attempt at the Indianapolis 500. During Fast Friday, he had a big crash and had to use his spare car. Everything was running his performance in Last Chance Qualifying, but unfortunately, to respond to Marcus Ericsson’s run, he crashed his DCR Honda.
Since then, he’s started in 15 races with Arrow McLaren. His best finish, a seventh, came at World Wide Technology Raceway, an oval in Illinois. This time around, he qualified 24th. His experience on ovals will come in handy compared to the other rookies on the grid, and hopefully will see success come race day. A true redemption arc could be possible.
Jacob Abel:
- Age: 24
- Indy 500 qualifying: Bumped from the field
- Car number: 51
- Race team: Dale Coyne Racing
- Engine: Honda
Unfortunately, another rookie has fallen victim to Last Chance Qualifying and been the odd man out. This time, it’s Jacob Abel. The American came up from Indy NXT and joined Dale Coyne Racing for the 2025 season. The promotion was backed by finishing second in the NXT championship, with a career-high three wins, ten podiums, and three pole positions.
READ MORE: Introducing Jacob Abel: IndyCar’s Newest Addition to the Grid
His first go-around in 500 qualifying didn’t go the greatest as he was one of four to compete for the three final spots in the 33-car starting field in Last Chance Qualifying. On day two, it ended up being between Abel and his Dale Coyne Racing teammate Rinus Veekay. At the end of the day, the veteran Veekay ended up taking the final spot.
Stay connected to Last Word on Motorsports for all the coverage from the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.
