First oval tests for Robert Shwartzman and Prema

Traditionally held at Texas Motor Speedway, the rookie oval test session of theIndyCar took place this Wednesday at the Nashville Superspeedway. The 1,33-mile (2,14 km) track will host the championship finale next August, as it did in 2024. Robert Shwartzman and Prema Racing took the opportunity to discover this very special IndyCar exercise. Louis Foster (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) also took part in these tests, on a track he already knew since it was on the 2024 Indy NXT calendar. The Briton won the championship at the end of this final round.

More than just a practice session, it's a must-do in IndyCar, as championship observers are stationed around the circuit. They are the ones who decide whether or not to allow rookie drivers to take part in the Indianapolis 500 practice sessions. On April 23 and 24, Shwartzman and Foster will have the opportunity to complete their Rookie Orientation Program at the legendary Speedway, a program that must be completed in order to qualify for the Indy 500. The Tel Aviv native didn't hide a hint of intimidation during his first laps, but he generally enjoyed this new challenge.

“It’s quite fun, to be honest! It was quite difficult at first to get my brain to understand that you’re going into a corner at over 300 km/h! At first I thought it was really fast, but step by step, lap by lap, I managed to get used to it and go flat out. We’ve already done quite a few laps, and also a simulated race relay which wasn’t bad at all.”

Indy, "a different kettle of fish"

The old pilot Classic Ferrari for sale en WEC took this discovery as an opportunity to gain experience before the upcoming oval events. It is also an opportunity for the entire team to learn how to work together to find the best possible setup for these tracks. Nashville presents a truly different challenge, as it is the only circuit with a concrete surface, rather than asphalt.

“Overall, I'm happy. I'm enjoying discovering ovals. There are a lot of things to work on and try, as it's the first time for me and the team on these types of tracks. I'm enjoying it for now. Indy will be a different story. Here, you feel like you're going fast, but in Indianapolis, you'll be going 60 or 70 km/h faster! It will be a different story, but it's a good way to train, to understand how ovals work and how to use the car at these speeds.”

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