PREMA Racing has further improved on its best finish in the NTT INDYCAR Series at the Grand Prix of Monterey, where Callum Ilott finished a strong sixth. Team-mate Robert Shwartzman had a more challenging race but still made up four positions from where he started to finish 21st.
Ahead of the 95-lap race, there was a split in the starting tires throughout the field. Both PREMA Racing drivers started on the harder Firestone tires, Ilott, from 24th, and Shwartzman, from 25th.
Ilott made a clean start to the race and gained four positions during the opening lap before a caution was called. On the alternate strategy, he made his first stop on lap 12 during another caution for the soft tire. He returned to the track in 23rd.
The British driver circulated into the top ten as others ahead made their first stops, sitting in fourth at one point. His second stop came on lap 41 for another set of soft tires.
From the halfway point of the race, Ilott came up against Pato O’Ward, attempting to make multiple moves on the Arrow McLaren driver which were defended against. His final trip into the pits came on lap 69, but a slightly slow stop meant he rejoined in 15th. He once again circulated his way into sixth and continued to chase down O’Ward.
Another two cautions came on laps 78 and 86, giving Ilott the opportunity to close the gap. He had to defend hard on each of the restarts but remained in sixth. Ilott held on well in the final ten laps and crossed the line sixth, further improving his and PREMA Racing’s best finish this season.
Meanwhile, team-mate Shwartzman’s race didn’t get off to the best start, having to take to the gravel after contact from Conor Daly. He kept the car going and immediately made his way into the pits for fuel.
Shwartzman also pitted under caution on lap 12 to discard the hard tires and after emerging in 24th he also made his way into the top ten before another two stops on laps 34 and 57. His final stop came on lap 73 which saw him rejoin in 23rd where he was able to make up a further two positions to finish 21st.
There is now a week break for PREMA Racing before NTT INDYCAR Series action returns in Portland to kick off the final three events of the 2025 season.
#83 ROBERT SHWARTZMAN
"At the start of the race I was pushed wide into the gravel and from there on I just tried to recover as much as I could as it changed our strategy. I was really struggling with the pace of the car though throughout the race which meant I couldn’t gain as many places. I had some moments where I felt like I was going to spin and I was trying to use the tools to help the car balance, but this didn’t seem to help. It seems like we are missing something, so we will work hard to try and figure it out ahead of the next race in Portland."
#90 CALLUM ILOTT
"It was a really solid race. We got the strategy right, so the team did an amazing job on that side. Also, with the pit stops they have really improved throughout the season and it’s paying off now. We started on the black tires and as a soon as the second yellow came out it opened the pit window, and we switched to the reds. I had really good tyre degradation, and I was able to maintain a good pace. It was a shame I couldn’t quite get past Pato as I think that would have been nice to set me up for the end of the race. But overall really happy with the team and being able to bring the result home."