PREMA Racing made an impressive debut in their first IndyCar test, with both drivers showing strong performance despite minimal preparation time. The team fired up their Chevrolet-powered cars just days before heading to The Thermal Club and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Rookie Robert Shwartzman demonstrated exceptional speed, reaching the top of the timing sheets twice and finishing third-fastest, just 0.175 seconds behind leader Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global. Teammate Callum Ilott overcame early technical issues to secure fourth place, 0.247 seconds off the pace.

For Ilott, who previously helped launch Juncos Hollinger Racing in 2021, this marks his second IndyCar team debut. His familiarity with PREMA from his European racing career, combined with the team's mix of European expertise and IndyCar veterans, including his former race engineer Steve Barker, has given the program a strong foundation.

The team's successful first outing showcases PREMA's ability to quickly adapt to new challenges, despite the IndyCar platform being more technologically advanced than their previous racing programs. While the initial results are promising, Ilott emphasizes that the team still has development work ahead, with time being their main constraint.

This strong start suggests PREMA Racing could be a competitive force in their inaugural IndyCar season, with Shwartzman already emerging as a strong contender for Rookie of the Year honors.

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