Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater IndyCar

PREMA adapting European approach to better suit IndyCar

by Kevin Dejewski
3 hours ago
A A
PREMA's iconic colors have been a fresh look on the IndyCar grid this season. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

PREMA's iconic colors have been a fresh look on the IndyCar grid this season. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

PREMA has nearly completed its first season fielding a pair of entries in the NTT IndyCar Series, and the team has been adapting its approach to match the American series’ unique demands.

The organization has been very successful competing in various European racing series over the past four decades, and decided to bring its efforts stateside in 2025.

The team found some unexpected challenges, but has largely risen to the task against teams that have many decades of experience specifically in the American open wheel scene.

MotorsportWeek.com talked with Callum Ilott, PREMA’s experienced driver, to gauge how well he and the team have been adapting their approach to better suit the IndyCar dynamic.

RelatedPosts

Open wheel cars will share the weekend with stock vehicles for the 2026 St. Petersburg event. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

NASCAR Trucks to join IndyCar for St. Petersburg race weekend

24 hours ago
Armstrong earned his first oval podium earlier this year. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

MSR extends Marcus Armstrong contract for 2026 IndyCar season

3 days ago

“We did have to have quite a big philosophy change early on in the year,” said Ilott. “From that point onwards, maybe Barber or slightly after, it’s gotten quite a lot better. That was a lot on the team, a bit on me, just pushing for a good direction.

“We’ve still got a lot on the European side. But the philosophy is not ingrained in the cultural side, just which way we need to go over the car.

“Maybe we did start with an inherently European philosophy just because of the way the tracks and cars are in Europe, but I wouldn’t say… It’s just different. It’s not a cultural thing.”

Rocky start followed by improvement

From the start, PREMA’s IndyCar operations have shown telltale signs of its European heritage.

The team produced a special live-streamed event to unveil its liveries for the season and has had a notable hospitality presence at every track from their very first race. Both of which are typically reserved for only the most established IndyCar teams.

The actual business of building a competitive race car had a rough start, however. Before the season even began, word came that the team’s relationship with veteran engineer Michael Cannon had fallen apart.

Cannon was a major point of reference to bring the team up to speed with the inner workings of IndyCar, but he felt that his advice was largely being ignored and he moved on after only a couple months working together.

The team has worked hard since then at adapting to the realities of its new challenge, and the results in recent races have reflected that effort.

Ilott is wrapping up his third full season in IndyCar. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

“Clearly [we have been working better together],” continued Ilott to MotorsportWeek.com. “We have a few top 10s, which we’ve been pushing and pushing for. It’s finally nice to be rewarded and satisfied with the jobs we’ve been doing. It’s good.

“Trying to carry on into the ovals, which I think we’ll be good at but it’s a bit of an unknown. I haven’t been to both of them yet, so they’re new for me too.”

PREMA’s biggest accomplishments to date include a shock Indianapolis 500 pole with its rookie driver Robert Shwartzman and three consecutive top 10 finishes with Ilott in the most recent three events.

The team has bigger ambitions, however, and gives every indication that it plans to put in the resources necessary to aim for stronger results in the years to come.

Tags: IlottIndyCarPremaShwartzman
Share204Tweet127Share

Related Posts

McLaren were back on top last season for the first time since 1998
Formula 1

How McLaren survived the brink of bankruptcy to return to F1 pinnacle

41 minutes ago
Caterham ended at the rear of the grid in 2013 and 2014
Formula 1

Kuwaiti investor aiming for 2027 F1 entry with Caterham name

2 hours ago
Gabriel Bortoleto is making his F1 debut with Sauber this season
Formula 1

Ex-F1 chief urges Ferrari to sign rookie as long-term successor to Lewis Hamilton

3 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

PREMA's iconic colors have been a fresh look on the IndyCar grid this season. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
IndyCar

PREMA adapting European approach to better suit IndyCar

August 21, 2025
Open wheel cars will share the weekend with stock vehicles for the 2026 St. Petersburg event. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
IndyCar

NASCAR Trucks to join IndyCar for St. Petersburg race weekend

August 20, 2025

Drivers’ Standings

#DriverPoints
1Álex Palou142
2Kyle Kirkwood108
3Christian Lundgaard96
4Felix Rosenqvist88
5Scott Dixon86
6Patricio O'Ward80
7Colton Herta73
8Scott McLaughlin69
9Will Power63
10Josef Newgarden58

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

 

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd