IndyCar: Will PREMA Racing Change up the INDYCAR Series in 2025? Will Prema Racing Change up NTT INDYCAR Series?

After an outstanding team introduction on YouTube in February, PREMA Racing is prepared to start the 2025 season in the NTT INDYCAR Series. With one veteran driver and a young rookie who has to learn the new car and all the tracks on the 17-race schedule, what will they accomplish in their first year?

PREMA Racing was formed in 1983 by Angelo Rosin and Giorgio Piccolo in Grisignano di Zocco, Veneto, Italy. It operates teams in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and FIA Formula 3 Championship. In 2022, the team had an entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series.

Many drivers in the IndyCar paddock have driven for PREMA Racing over the years. Ryan Briscoe, who will be working with the drivers and engineers for the new IndyCar team, drove in the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2003 and won the inaugural edition.

Piers Phillips is the Chief Executive Officer of PREMA Racing. Phillips has worked for several teams in IndyCar, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and Brabham Racing. The Brit was seen at several races in 2024, recruiting the best people to join the newest IndyCar Team.

This new team’s enthusiasm and competitiveness are tremendous. Will this new team in the paddock achieve a win this season and shake up the championship?

Callum Ilott is the veteran driver. The Brit has raced just short of three seasons for Juncos Hollinger Racing. Although the rookie driver was impressive in his first season of just three races, he never won a pole or a race before leaving JHR.

Callum Ilott. Photo Supplied by Chevrolet Motorsports

Autoracing1 spoke with Illot today about their goals for the first year.

“I think this year will focus around the Indy 500, to put everything together as a team. Hopefully we will be as good and consistent as possible before then. We are not sure where we are going to start.”

“I am confident after testing that we are ready. But you don’t know how the car is going to gel with these circuits. You have got to be very adaptable and versatile in this series versus a European series.”

Robert Shwartzman Photo Supplied by Chevrolet Motorsports

Robert Shwartzman is the rookie who drove for this team in 2020 in Formula 2. The 25-year-old had four wins that season. In 2021, he was in the championship hunt down to the final round, fighting his teammate, Oscar Piastri. At the end of the season, he tested with two Formula One teams and was confirmed as a test driver for Scuderia for the 2022 season.

Shwartzman has to learn not only the street and road courses but also master the oval tracks. Luckily, he has Briscoe to work with him. Briscoe won the 2012 Indianapolis 500 and has won at several oval tracks in his career, including the Milwaukee Mile, Kentucky Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Chicagoland Speedway.

Autoracing1 spoke with the young rookie about his approach to the new challenge.

“I have had experience with a hybrid but not manually. Last year in WEC, I drove a hybrid and it was basically the same thing but not manual. I hope in the future IndyCar would use it more, because now it seems that it is not as strong as it could be.”

“So now I have to really drive the car and adjust things. The target is obviously to improve the team and the cars together.”

“The IndyCar is fun, it is quite dynamic. It has a lot of movement and generally it is a fun car to drive.”

The last team to enter the NTT INDYCAR Series with the same enthusiasm was Arrow McLaren SP in 2020. McLaren Racing became a joint entry with Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson. For 2025, McLaren Racing purchased the remaining stake in the team and retains the name Arrow McLaren.

We welcome the new team and wish them an exciting year in the NTT INDYCAR Series.

Lucille Dust reporting live from St Petersburg, FL