P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Indy 500 was, in his pre-IndyCar days, “one of the scariest races that I’ve seen” for Robert Shwartzman. On Sunday he starts it from pole. He talks to The Race about an incredible few days
Robert Shwartzman will start the Indianapolis 500 from the front despite an unresolved five-place grid penalty in Formula 1.
He initially had concerns about transitioning to IndyCar and facing the “scary” Indy 500, a sentiment he shares with his former F2 teammate Oscar Piastri.
Piastri also acknowledged the event’s intensity, referring to participants as “crazy” due to the high speeds involved.
Shwartzman, however, has found confidence in manipulating the car on the edge and believes other F1 drivers contemplating IndyCar would also enjoy the challenge.
JR Hildebrand, a respected figure in IndyCar history, praised Shwartzman’s Fast 12 qualifying performance as exceptional, highlighting his natural talent for speed.
While acknowledging the importance of car performance, it is evident that Shwartzman’s innate skill and ability to push boundaries have set him apart in this year’s Indy 500 lineup.
