Robert Shwartzman has revealed information about the injuries sustained by members of his PREMA Racing pit crew following a dramatic crash at the Indianapolis 500. The rookie IndyCar driver, who impressively started the race from pole position, experienced rear brake issues during a pit stop on lap 87, leading to a collision with the wall and his own crew. This incident resulted in injuries and ended his race prematurely.
During the pit stop, Shwartzman lost control as he entered, striking the crew in what commentators compared to a bowling-ball effect. One crew member sustained a suspected foot fracture and required stretcher assistance. The collision also damaged Shwartzman’s No. 83 Chevrolet, breaking the steering arm, putting an end to his race at the event.
In the days leading up to the Detroit Grand Prix, Shwartzman shared further insight regarding the crash and the condition of his crew, including the confirmation of a toe fracture sustained by one member.
“It was a scary moment. I’m happy that all the guys in the team are fine because my first impact was very strong on the wall. But luckily it was the wall and not somebody’s feet, and that would’ve been really scary. It happened so quick, like in one second,”
—Robert Shwartzman, IndyCar Driver
“So the most important thing is that all the guys are safe. Just one guy had a broken toe. Yeah, just taking care of him. He’s recovering now. All other guys had bruises and bumps, a bit of soreness, but I was really happy at the end that nobody got seriously injured.”
—Robert Shwartzman, IndyCar Driver
Despite the crash ending his race, Shwartzman earned an additional 12 points toward the IndyCar championship for securing pole position. After six races, he ranks 23rd out of 27 full-time drivers, with his PREMA teammate Callum Ilott sitting in 26th place in the standings.
Shwartzman Reflects on His Emotional Journey from Indy 500 Pole to Race Day Mishap
Robert Shwartzman made history during the second day of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 by becoming the first rookie to claim pole position since Teo Fabi in 1983. This achievement was even more remarkable as it came with PREMA Racing, a novice team competing in its debut season of American open-wheel racing.
Looking back on his first Indy 500 event ahead of the Detroit Grand Prix, Shwartzman described a mix of emotions. His experience was marked by an extraordinary high during qualifying, followed by a disappointing race result due to the early crash.
“Overall, it was a mix of emotions. Like really high up, then a bit low with the race, but overall, I’m happy because we managed to do a history moment. We won first pole position in Indy, and it was the most important pole position of the year. We showed everyone that, even though being a rookie and struggling with the car performance, we can still achieve big things,”
—Robert Shwartzman, IndyCar Driver
At the Detroit street circuit practice on Friday, Shwartzman completed 35 laps, the most of any driver in that session. His best lap time was 1:03.2055, ranking him 19th fastest. His teammate Callum Ilott recorded a slightly better time, placing 17th, as both prepare for the upcoming race weekend.
Shwartzman’s experience at the Indy 500 highlights both the risks and potential highs of open-wheel racing, demonstrating determination as he recovers from the tough incident with his team. His comments underline the priority given to safety and recovery, as PREMA Racing looks ahead to future challenges.
