From Monaco to Martinsville, racing has no boundaries. As Oscar Piastri continues to dominate the Formula 1 World, NASCAR also has Kyle Larson to match the speed. But when these two worlds collide, will we get to see advanced racing mixed with dirt-track strategies? One former Formula 1 driver has decided to trade precision for horsepower. In a surprising twist that is revving up both the paddocks and pit lanes, the ex-F1 racer has dropped a hint at a possible NASCAR debut after a successful rookie performance at the Indy 500 race, all while thanking his longtime inspiration, the stock car legend Jeff Gordon.
We’ve seen the likes of Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch make their breakthrough in NASCAR. So, the team wouldn’t mind giving a shot to the 2025 Indy 500 pole winner.
Robert Shwartzman was once a NASCAR fan
A former member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Champion, Robert Shwartzman, had not been an avid NASCAR fan until the era of the legendary Jeff Gordon. Originally competing in various open-wheel formula racing categories and even partnering with Oscar Piastri in his Formula 3 career. But the path to F1 didn’t open up for the Israeli driver; apart from a few practice runs, he couldn’t get a shot at the full-time ride, and he switched lanes to GT Racing.
But his big switch came by the end of 2024, when PREMA Racing announced he would fill the final slot in the driver lineup ahead of his debut in IndyCar for 2025. And boy oh boy, he’s made the most of this opportunity. With the biggest event of the calendar year on the horizon, Shwartzman bagged the pole position for the 109th running of the Indy 500. He hasn’t raced on ovals, but still, he could keep his cool doing 230+ mph. Fun fact, he used to play NASCAR video, in an era when Jeff Gordon used to dominate the ovals in his #24 Chevy, and not just that, Shwarztman was also fond of drivers like Kurt and Kyle Busch.
In a recent interview with Jeff Gluck on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media, the youngster shared his appreciation for the sport, which began as a result of Jeff Gordon’s golden age in NASCAR. “I watched quite a bit when Jeff Gordon was dominating—car 24,” said Shwartzman. “Then there was Kyle Busch. I think—yeah, that was Kurt Busch—his brother. Then I stopped. I was just too focused on Formula 1 and European racing, so I lost the vibe a bit.” But despite losing his interest in the sport, he thinks he can make it to NASCAR, “I think I’ve done Formula 1, the F2, F3, F4, I’ve done Formula E, I’ve done WEC, GT, and now IndyCars. So you never know.”
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Surprisingly, all the drivers he mentioned are not just champions, but great personalities. Kurt Busch was known for his explosive radio rants, while his brother Kyle was known to ruffle feathers and add new records to his name. Things are so dire that NASCAR is paying the current drivers money to put themselves out there and collaborate with other major sports. We’ve seen a bunch of NASCAR drivers headed to WWE events, then there was Kyle Larson and William Byron visiting the Quail Hollow ahead of the PGA Tour, headed to Charlotte.
The only modern-day reference or memory the PREMA Racing driver had was of Ross Chastain pulling off the hail-melon at Martinsville. And one can argue, the Chastain against stands out among the rest of the drivers in the Cup garage. “There was some races and funny moments like that, I don’t know who he was but this guy was like, ‘I’m gonna floor it and I’m not going to lift my foot off until I see the checkered flag or god,’ like that thing.’” On the flip side, the top dogs of the IndyCar Series, Team Penske, had another moment of embarrassment, which allowed Shwartzman a shot at the Indy 500 pole.
Where is Josef Newgarden starting for the 109th Indianapolis 500?
On Sunday, the officials saw something they didn’t like on the rear attenuator of the Josef Newgardens No. 2 Penske Chevrolet. There was tampering with the parts, and they were modified, not just Newgarden; his teammate Will Power’s car was also pulled back. They weren’t allowed to race for pole, and were initially awarded a starting position in Row 4. But the IndyCar responded with stricter punishment on Monday, announcing that Newgarden will start 32nd and Power in 33rd in the rear of the field.
Both teams have been fined $100,000 each, and their race strategist have been ejected. Team Penske accepted the ruling and made a statement, “We accept the penalties issued today by the INDYCAR Series which are due to a ‘Body Fit’ violation that occurred prior to the qualifying session yesterday. We are disappointed by the results and the impact it has on our organization.”
This is a bad look for Team Penske, as team owner Roger Penske also owns the Series. Not to forget, they were recovering from last year’s push to the pass scandal that shocked the entire paddock. Regardless of the status or power the team holds, IndyCar ruled with an iron fist. “This is a clear indication, I hope, to the paddock, that we take this seriously, that this is not something that we are going to continue to allow to happen.” Series President Doug Boles said.
It is going to be a blockbuster race when the field goes green next Sunday at the Indy 500. There’s the story of Robert Shwartzman, a potential comeback for Newgarden, and then there is Kyle Larson’s double duty.
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