![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/05\/Robert-Shwartzman-Indianapolis-500-Front-Row-Photo-Shoot-By_-Chris-Owens_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m131200-300x200.jpg\")
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- Age:<\/strong>\u00a025<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: Pole position, 232.790<\/li>\n
- Car number:<\/strong>\u00a090<\/li>\n
- Race team:<\/strong>\u00a0Prema Racing<\/li>\n
- Engine:<\/strong>\u00a0Chevrolet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Robert Shwartzman! What a run by the rookie. #Indy500<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WY1hysycns<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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.\u00a0 Shwartzman also competed in the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship\u00a0for\u00a0AF Corse\u00a0alongside\u00a0Yifei Ye\u00a0and\u00a0Robert Kubica.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:\u00a0Robert Shwartzman Becomes First Rookie Indy 500 Pole Sitter in 43 Years<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Louis Foster<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/05\/Louis-Foster-Indianapolis-500-Qualification-Photo-By_-John-Cote_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m130595-300x240.jpg\")
Louis Foster poses with his car before he qualifies for the 109th Indianapolis 500. Photo by John Cote, May 18, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - \n
- Age:<\/strong>\u00a021<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: 20th, 231.058 mph<\/li>\n
- Car number:<\/strong>\u00a045<\/li>\n
- Race team:<\/strong>\u00a0Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing<\/li>\n
- Engine:<\/strong> Honda<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The 2024 Indy NXT champion, Louis Foster<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0\u00a0Foster 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.<\/p>\n
Nolan Siegel<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/05\/Nolan-Siegel-Indianapolis-500-Qualification-Photo-By_-John-Cote_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m130522-300x240.jpg\")
Nolan Siegel poses with his car before qualifying for the 109th Indianapolis 500. Photo by John Cote, May 18, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - \n
- Age:<\/strong>\u00a020<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: 24th, 230.917<\/li>\n
- Car number:<\/strong>\u00a06<\/li>\n
- Race team:<\/strong>\u00a0Arrow McLaren<\/li>\n
- Engine:<\/strong>\u00a0Chevrolet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This isn’t Nolan Siegel<\/a>‘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<\/a> 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\u2019s run, he crashed his DCR Honda.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jacob Abel:<\/h3>\n
![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/05\/Jacob-Abel-Indianapolis-500-Qualification-Photo-By_-John-Cote_Ref-Image-Without-Watermark_m130656-300x240.jpg\")
Jacob Abel, before attempting to qualify for the 109th Indianapolis 500. May 18, 2025. John Cote, Penske Entertainment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - \n
- Age:<\/strong>\u00a024<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: Bumped from the field<\/li>\n
- Car number:<\/strong>\u00a051<\/li>\n
- Race team:<\/strong>\u00a0Dale Coyne Racing<\/li>\n
- Engine:<\/strong>\u00a0Honda<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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.<\/p>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: Bumped from the field<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: 24th, 230.917<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: 20th, 231.058 mph<\/li>\n
- Indy 500 qualifying<\/strong>: Pole position, 232.790<\/li>\n