PREMA and Robert Shwartzman’s Intense Dedication in Building Their Next-Gen Car

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From Flames to Finish Line: Shwartzman’s Thermal Club Saga, Andretti’s Redemption, and Daly’s Sponsorship Win

March 23, 2025

Shwartzman’s fiery Friday and PREMA Racing‘s Herculean Effort

Robert Shwartzman faced an uphill battle even before the green flag dropped at The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on sunday. After a dramatic fire engulfed his No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet during Friday’s practice session, shwartzman found himself starting in 27th place, the back of the grid.The blaze erupted exiting Turn 6, leaving the team with a monumental task: rebuilding the car virtually from scratch.

The speed and efficiency with which PREMA racing responded were nothing short of remarkable. Just 24 hours later, Shwartzman’s car was back on track for Saturday’s qualifying session. “The damage was so severe we didn’t have any other choice than to pivot and go to a backup car,” said PREMA Racing CEO Piers Phillips.

This wasn’t a simple swap; INDYCAR rules stipulate that a backup car consists only of the monocoque chassis. The engine, hybrid system, electronics, and countless other components had to be transferred and reassembled. Phillips noted that the standard timeline for building a race car is typically two to three days. The team managed to compress that process into an intense 15-hour overnight effort, working until 4 a.m. local time.

Shwartzman himself contributed to the rebuild, demonstrating “camaraderie and togetherness” that Phillips praised. While the team eventually urged him to rest, Shwartzman returned early to assist with final preparations. “I think it sounds really corny, but I think you see how good a team is when it’s up against it,” Phillips said. “The winning part is easy. It’s when you’ve got to come from behind and dig in. And I think that’s when you really see.”

Andretti global’s Thermal Turnaround: From Struggles to Strong Starts

Last year’s Thermal Club event was a rough outing for Andretti Global. Colton Herta managed a fourth-place finish in the exhibition race, but Kyle Kirkwood and Marcus Ericsson struggled. This year, though, the team arrived with a renewed sense of optimism, thanks to a dedicated test day on Jan. 28.

Ericsson explained that the test aimed “to try and get a better baseline setup for us because we were struggling quite a bit here last year. To be fair, I think we got that.” The results spoke for themselves: Herta qualified fourth, Ericsson fifth, and Kirkwood eighth. This marked a meaningful improvement and positioned Andretti Global for a strong showing in the points-paying race.

The importance of testing cannot be overstated. In a sport where milliseconds matter, having a solid baseline setup can make all the difference. For Andretti Global,the January test proved to be a crucial investment,allowing them to fine-tune their cars and drivers to the unique demands of The thermal Club circuit.

Andretti Global: Thermal Club Performance

Driver	2024 Result (Exhibition)	2025 Qualifying
Colton Herta	4th	4th
Marcus Ericsson	Heat Race: 12th	5th
Kyle Kirkwood	Heat Race: 10th	8th

Daly’s Drive: New Sponsorship and old Connections Pave the Way

Conor Daly and Juncos Hollinger Racing had reason to celebrate before the Thermal Club race even began. The team announced a new sponsorship deal with Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers, featuring the 76 Renewable Diesel branding on Daly’s No. 76 Chevrolet. “It’s every day you’re just trying to continue to build this program and trying to figure it out,” Daly said, highlighting the ongoing effort to secure partnerships.

The deal came together thru Daly’s personal connections, a testament to the importance of networking in motorsports. daly explained, “You got to always try to cross and work on these things. It helps our program. And certainly more support, which is really nice.” The sponsorship provides a financial boost and a morale boost for the entire team.

The connection with the “76” brand,known for its iconic orange ball logo,is particularly resonant with American racing fans. The original plan to run No. 78 was changed to No. 76, integrating the sponsor’s brand directly into the car’s identity. In a lighthearted moment, Daly acknowledged the pre-existing merchandise, saying, “We’re trying to make some merch, and hey, if you bought some 78 merch, it still counts, cause my helmet still says 78 on it. I’m in the same boat as everyone else. And my shoes, too.”

Learning from an F1 Alum: Daly Taps Sargeant’s Thermal Club Experience

Facing his first INDYCAR race at The Thermal Club, Conor Daly sought advice from an unexpected source: former Formula one driver Logan Sargeant. Sargeant, who had tested an INDYCAR at the track in November, provided Daly with valuable insights.

Daly said Sargeant told him, “‘Man, degradation… It’s something that we are all aware of, but that makes racing, and it makes it our job tougher, but it should be hard.'” This highlights a key difference between F1 and INDYCAR racing: tire degradation. In INDYCAR, managing tire wear is crucial for maintaining pace throughout a stint. Sargeant’s experience at Thermal Club offered Daly a valuable viewpoint on this challenge.

Daly qualified 15th for the race, improving on his 22nd-place start in the season opener at St.Petersburg. This underscores the value of seeking expert advice, even from those outside the INDYCAR series.

Odds and Ends from The Thermal Club

• Pato O’Ward started from pole position in his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, marking his sixth career pole.
• The green flag for Sunday’s race waved at 3:22 p.m. ET.
• The Thermal Club joined the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar as the third new road or street circuit as 2021.
• The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix was the first of six natural terrain road course races in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.

Video Highlights

Relive the excitement with this behind-the-scenes look at the Thermal Club weekend: