Risking Everything at the Indy 500 with Felix Rosenqvist: Ep 49
Highlights from the episode:
What it felt like to win the Indy 500 in the closest finishing EVER
How becoming a first time father just weeks before this race made racing feel different
The rough patch that made this win mean more
The fans who made Indy feel like home
The PB&J behind one historic race day
Podcast show notes:
Even if you’re not a racing fan, one look and you would agree…we may never see racing as good and as intense as what millions witnessed in the final lap of this year’s Indy 500.
There are sporting events that feel bigger than the result, and this Memorial Day weekend tradition is one of them.
In this episode, I had a chance to sit down with Felix Rosenqvist the morning after he crossed the bricks and became the Indy 500 champion in the closest finish ever. To give you an idea of how big of a deal this race is to the drivers who compete in this series, Felix’s win left runner up David Malukas in tears because he almost had it. They all say it — the driver who wins THIS race, is immortalized forever.
Felix takes us inside the final lap, the split-second risk that changed everything, and the feeling of winning his first oval race at the biggest Indycar race in the world. He also opens up about becoming a father earlier in the month, how it shifted the pressure he carries, and why this win felt like a reflection point after some difficult seasons.
What You’ll Discover:
The magic and tradition of Indianapolis (01:05)
Why Felix risked it all on the high line (05:03)
How fans in Indy rallied behind him (09:07)
How fatherhood changed his perspective (10:52)
The thing no one tells you about the grind (14:47)
Felix’s must-have race day food (19:22)
Felix’s story is a reminder that the biggest wins are rarely just about one moment. What he shares shows the human side of a once-in-a-lifetime win: the nerves, the gratitude, the family piece, and the years of hard work behind one unforgettable finish.
To hear more of these conversations, subscribe to Things No One Tells You wherever you like to watch or listen, and if this conversation impacted you, please rate and review the show.
Be sure to subscribe to Things No One Tells You—Lindsay’s podcast all about the real, unfiltered conversations we don’t always have but should. From big names to everyday voices, each episode dives into the moments that shape us. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Follow along with Lindsay below!
Full Transcript
[00:00:00] Lindsay: What is the thing no one tells you that you've experienced along the way?
[00:00:06] Felix: I think a lot of people probably expect it to be all fame and glory and nice dinners and Private jets. It's a pretty big grind to get to this point. That's another thing people probably don't know, but when you have a rough patch and you start to put the work in, you never get immediate results.
[00:00:31] It never changes in a day. It's like... But the grind pays off eventually. Slowly, it changes, and then you have this great momentum, and then it's the easiest thing in the world. Winning races is the easiest thing you can do, but fighting through those and
[00:00:47] I think that's actually what it is to be a professional athlete at this level, to fight through those rough patches and come out the other side, 'cause a lot of people don't.
[00:00:56] And, yeah, yesterday was a good moment to reflect on that and just kind of pat yourself on the back a little bit for sticking through it and not giving up.
[00:01:05] Lindsay: Hey, everybody, and welcome to this episode of Things No One Tells You. From my hotel room in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is one of my favorite places to come, and I come to Indiana a lot for work stuff, because it's just a great sports town.
[00:01:21] And this is Things No One Tells You about winning the Indy 500. I've talked about this. The Indy 500 is one of my favorite sporting events to cover, and I've been lucky to work with IndyCar over the past few years to host the victory celebration banquet, which is on Monday night after the race. So this weekend, part of my job is to be at the race.
[00:01:43] And you guys, I am so excited because this episode is Things No One Tells You with Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist. And if you've not been to the Indy 500, I cannot stress enough how magical and special this event is. So many people come out for it: actors, musicians. Yesterday, I saw the Colts, almost the entire Pacers team was here, Caitlin Clark, just so many different people.
[00:02:12] And it is because this event is before the race starts, the tradition, the pomp and circumstance, it's palpable. There were 400,000 people at the speedway. But there's no question, the winner who wins and crosses the bricks, it changes their lives forever. So yesterday, what I saw was Felix Rosenqvist; he won by the closest Indy 500 finish ever.
[00:02:38] It was crazy. People were on their feet. I mean, no one could believe it. It was so intense. The second-place finisher, David Malukas, let me just tell you, this is how much this race means to them. He was kneeling, very emotional, crying, and when they interviewed him after on the broadcast, he was crying, and he was like, "I just can't believe it.
[00:03:01] Second." And then he said, "This place." And when he said this place, I just was like that sums it up. Like, all these drivers talk about what this race does for their career, for their legacy. But what I love about being able to talk to Felix is that he is sitting down with me the morning after he won this race, but he became a dad for the first time on May 4th.
[00:03:24] So he started the month of May becoming a father, and he bookends the month of May with the greatest accomplishment he has had so far in his career. And he was almost sort of, kind of left. He joined his new team in 2024, and they took a chance on him. So that is such an awesome part of his story. I can't wait for you to hear.
[00:03:47] Here he is, Felix Rosenqvist. Wait, so you are the first bearded person who will have their face on the Borg-Warner Trophy, the winner of the Indy 500?
[00:03:56] Felix: Apparently so. Someone told me that was the case, and that was a very random stat that I... Not only the closest finish ever, but the first bearded person.
[00:04:07] Lindsay: So they'll actually do that likeness?
[00:04:10] Felix: I'm not sure how you do that.
[00:04:11] Lindsay: I think that you should fight for that. That's very cool.
[00:04:13] Felix: Yeah. There we are. Bearded winner.
[00:04:16] Lindsay: The closest finish in the history of this race. Where does that land with you the day after?
[00:04:23] Felix: I've only had time to re-watch that race with commentary. Will Buxton screaming his lungs out one, one time, and I got goosebumps. As a race fan, to see that, that's what it's all about. I, that's what made that win so special, 'cause I, just love, I love racing and I love for these fans that come out to, almost half a million people, and everyone watching around the world.
[00:04:50] That, I knew that's what they wanted to see, a green flag finish, two wide or three wide, even at times. And, yeah, what, way to, to win the 500. There's just nothing like it.
[00:05:03] Lindsay: I mean, you're such a pure racer. What was going through your mind on that final lap and in those moments?
[00:05:11] Felix: It was just pure adrenaline. I wasn't really thinking. It's crazy, I think only Indy does that to you, where you don't really think about risk or consequences or saving the car, taking points. Everything just goes out the window. You're just driving on instinct. And I know all the other three, four drivers that were in the mix at the time, they're the same.
[00:05:35] So you just, you have to be very fierce at the time. You just have to risk it all. And it was cool also, that's what it took to actually win it, I just got it by basically putting it all on the line. And I did that whole last lap on the high line, which I've never done before.
[00:05:54] I'd never been on the high line in turn four ever in my eight years. Really? So that was the first time.
[00:06:00] Lindsay: Why? For people who don't necessarily understand.
[00:06:03] Felix: So going on the high line basically means less grip, 'cause no one runs up there and it's full of dirt and marbles. And, it's a risky maneuver, and yeah, so I was like, I... It was kind of easy in a way, 'cause I had no choice. 'Cause if I s- if I went to the inside, I w- my run was gonna be done, and I wasn't gonna win it. And it's okay, let's just bet it all on the high line and, yeah, see where it where, see where it takes me.
[00:06:37] Lindsay: So what did that feel like?
[00:06:40] Felix: Badass. It felt really cool. That was also my first oval win ever. And, coming over here almost 10 years ago, I'd never done an oval, and I was like, I really struggled on ovals initially. But I always dreamt about winning one, 'cause I obviously won a lot of races in my career, all on road and street courses, and only one in IndyCar.
[00:07:07] But to win in, on, on an oval would be such an accomplishment to me, 'cause I had to learn it from zero. And we've seen a lot of drivers come to this series, and- Yeah ... ovals are such a challenge. And yeah, to win my first oval race here at Indy, and that, with that finish, I'm very proud of it.
[00:07:28] Lindsay: You should be.
[00:07:29] Right? And for your team, too. Yeah. And then you said it kind of, you felt like the car just pushed, right, at the very end. What was that moment?
[00:07:37] Felix: Yeah. It was... I mean, our car was so quick all day. I, my whole Meyer Shank Racing team, and Honey prepped that car. And for you who don't know, these cars are prepped for a whole year, basically, just this car.
[00:07:50] So we don't do anything else with this car. We're just gonna... Especially now that we won it, it's likely you're just gonna look after it for a year, and then we're gonna roll out here in 2027 again for Indy.
[00:08:02] Lindsay: With the same car.
[00:08:03] Felix: With the same car.
[00:08:04] Lindsay: So it's the blood, sweat, and tears that go on for an entire year.
[00:08:07] Felix: Yeah. And that's what's so cool here, that if you look at it from a, let's say, sober perspective, this race pays as many points as Detroit or St. Pete. So you could think that all the teams would be kind of putting all their resources to take as many points as possible, and Indy's a small part of it.
[00:08:27] But all these teams and drivers, they just throw it all on the line for this race. And I think that's what's so cool about Indy, that we don't really, it doesn't really make any sense, but everyone does it 'cause they love this race. The love for the sport is clear through everyone involved.
[00:08:46] Yeah. And it's not about money, it's just pure passion for racing. And that was, yeah, that was a pure racing moment. I'm so... it's so cool.
[00:08:58] Lindsay: I want to talk to you about just your May and the way that you booked it. You became a dad for the first time. Your wife had your daughter Stella-
[00:09:07] Felix: Yep.
[00:09:07] Lindsay: In the very beginning of May, and then you win the Indy 500. But real quick, the fans. I want to ask you about the fans, because winning that, I saw these fans with the flag of Sweden, and just running over there. And I'm like, wow, that's... There was a large crowd. What did you feel? And what are you experiencing with that?
[00:09:26] Felix: it's been a, it's been a different year for me here, 'cause I've had a lot of fan support. I think in qualifying when I had those great runs in the fast, in the first segment, and then fast 12, it's like the fans adopted me. It was weird. Doug Boles told me, they, they were, they wanted me to get that pole.
[00:09:48] And every time after that, I just felt like everyone was cheering for me. It was crazy. and people walking in the paddock or seeing people in my free time, like going for dinner. Everyone... I definitely had more support than ever. And not only from Sweden, but also, there were a lot of Swedes who came out here.
[00:10:05] That was awesome. But also, I've lived here now for almost 10 years in Indianapolis. I feel like the local fans have really gotten behind me, which is super cool. And I, and you can feel that. I could feel like they were behind me. It, it, really made a difference. It gave me confidence.
[00:10:23] And it's... You can't really describe what it's like to have- All these grandstands, and I'm not saying all of them, but a lot of the people here, thousands cheering for me, you know- Yeah ... a guy from Sweden. Yeah, it's just mind-blowing.
[00:10:40] Lindsay: Why do you think it is? What do you think it is
[00:10:43] Felix: That made you, I don't know.
[00:10:43] I feel maybe it's like the dad effect. I'm not sure.
[00:10:45] Lindsay: The dad effect…maybe. I know. I was gonna say, you're a really nice fella. Everybody knows you're really nice, right? But, like.
[00:10:50] Felix: Yeah. I don't know.
[00:10:51] Lindsay: So the dad effect.
[00:10:52] Felix: Yeah
[00:10:52] Lindsay: Tell me about that. What has this been like for you?
[00:10:56] Felix: It's, I think, actually that made more difference than you think.
[00:11:01] It actually made a huge impact on me as a person. I feel like my life truly changed when our daughter was born. It was the craziest thing. It unlocked emotions I didn't know I had, and I felt, yeah, like for the first time in my life, I had to step up and be a father and protect this beautiful little human being.
[00:11:27] and after that moment, I've felt like everything else kind of doesn't really matter. Everything else is a bonus. And it's kind of a nice approach to have as an athlete, 'cause we put so much pressure on ourselves every day, and not only ourselves, but the media and the team. And every time you go into the paddock, you get put under pressure.
[00:11:53] But I feel like after becoming a dad, I just feel so much more relaxed and don't really care, to be honest. 'cause you come home to your family and that's really all that matters. So I think it truly unlocked something new in me as an athlete as well.
[00:12:08] Lindsay: What do you think it does for an athlete? 'Cause, athletes in other sports will say the same thing.
[00:12:13] What do you think it is that makes it take the load off of you and make you succeed?
[00:12:21] Felix: Yeah, I think it's just the fact that you now have something bigger. You have something... Like, all my life, all I've done is go in circles. I've only been focusing on my career, my racing. And I think at some point, when you get to a level, you start to bring it home with you.
[00:12:42] You, and to be frank, in this sport, you have way more bad days than good days. That's just a reality. 90% of our days, you're gonna be disappointed, 'cause you didn't win, you didn't achieve what you wanted to do. You had a bad pit stop, what- whatever it is, you're, you always, you have to be so hard on yourself to compete at this level.
[00:13:03] But yeah, if you can take that pressure off and not bring it with you home, I think that's a huge strength. 'Cause otherwise, it's gonna be another guy that is just as good as you, but he's not miserable, and he's-
[00:13:17] Lindsay: When you said that, I thought, I think that's so important. Yeah, and that's a really interesting thing.
[00:13:21] You're right.
[00:13:21] Felix: Yeah. Now it's,
[00:13:23] Lindsay: It's important to be happy at what you're doing. Yeah, but I don't think people probably don't understand the pressure that you guys are under because, A, you're performing, and at this race, I mean, it's a whole different level. Then you've got the sponsors. You've got it, it's all these things that add up to pressure.
[00:13:38] Yeah, is there a favorite moment that you've had so far just being a dad? Is there a time with Stella that you treasure the most?
[00:13:51] Felix: I mean, I think just the birth was so cool. Yeah, that, I think that's the peak moment for me ever, when she came out, and she was. You created a life, basically.
[00:14:09] yeah, that was the moment for me that was, that will always stick to my wife and me. Yeah, that feeling of stepping up. you ... I feel like I went from being a boy to a man in a good way. You finally have to step up, and now you have a responsibility, like real responsibility.
[00:14:29] Right. I mean, you're responsible for the car or your crew, but this is something on a different level where you literally have to keep this baby alive. And I think it's such a cool thing to ... And like a cool challenge as well.
[00:14:47] Lindsay: What is the thing no one tells you that you've experienced along the way?
[00:14:52] Felix: I think a lot of people probably expect it to be all, fame and glory and nice dinners and private jets. It's a pretty big grind to get to this point. I think that... I don't normally think about that. I'm pretty good at looking forward to it. But yesterday was a moment for me to reflect on all the, like, all the tough things I've been through in my career.
[00:15:23] crashes, I've been injured, I've had bad years when you don't perform the level you want to do. But I'm so happy that I've stuck through it and I've pushed through the hard times. 'Cause when you do that, that's another thing people probably don't know, but when you have a rough patch, and you start to put the work in, you never get immediate results.
[00:15:48] It never changes in a day. It's like... But the grind pays off eventually. Slowly, it changes, and then you have this great momentum, and then it's the easiest thing in the world. Winning races is the easiest thing you can do, but fighting through those and
[00:16:04] I think that's actually what it is to be a professional athlete, at this level, to fight through those rough patches and come out the other side, 'cause a lot of people don't.
[00:16:13] And, yeah, yesterday was a good moment to reflect on that and just kind of pat yourself on the back a little bit for sticking through it and not giving up. Yeah.
[00:16:23] Lindsay: When you looked back and reflected, what was the hardest patch that you found yourself proud about getting through?
[00:16:34] Felix: Probably my year in 2023 when there was a lot of talk about my career, and yeah, it was a difficult time.
[00:16:44] I just didn't have a ride, and I basically had, every weekend I just had to prove myself. And there was a lot of talk in the media. And I think I did a good job, kind of letting it sort of rinse off me. But I was definitely stressed. And my wife told me that, "You're, yeah, it, you're not doing very well," basically.
[00:17:10] It definitely got to me. But I'm so happy that I just got through that year. And Meyer Shank signed me for 24. Mm-hmm. And it was, like, the missing puzzle piece in there. They were looking for a driver who just had speed. Mike told me, "All we need from you is to be quick, and we'll figure out racecraft and all that stuff later.
[00:17:31] But we need someone quick." And, I really feel like they're fully behind me from day one. And, they never give me pressure, which is great. Jim and Mike never, ever can I remember a moment when they're like, "Hey, you need," like-
[00:17:49] Lindsay: Wow. Yeah...
[00:17:50] Felix: They've always just kind of been, I- it- it's been more like being in a, fam- like, part of a family, and that's ver- very much the style of our team.
[00:17:58] And we're not by any means a small team. We're a big operation, 100-plus people, and we go out to win. This is what we wanna do, and we wanna compete for wins everywhere. So we're, yeah, to do this together with a team, and the way I entered a team and had the full support of me was super, super cool.
[00:18:22] Lindsay: Was there any hesitation with it? "Okay, I don't know if this is the right move," at that time?
[00:18:27] Felix: I didn't have many options, to be honest. So they kinda helped me out when I was in a tough spot. That's awesome. Yeah. Yeah, I had maybe two options. And I just had a good feeling with Mike and Jim 'cause they- Yeah.
[00:18:43] I felt that they truly wanted me. It wasn't like I was the best option or-
[00:18:48] Lindsay: Yes ...
[00:18:49] Felix: they, they saw something in me. "We want this guy." And that meant a lot to me at the time.
[00:18:53] Lindsay: think also, I think that's so relatable because I think oftentimes even people that are in any industry or any part of their life, sometimes things feel too izzy, easy.
[00:19:02] Felix: Yeah.
[00:19:02] Lindsay: Feel things feel like, "Well, this seems like it's right." Yeah. "Should I do it?" And I think sometimes the answer is just yes. Yeah. And people wanting you- Yeah ... and feeling like someone believing in you is all it takes. Yeah. And that's enough sometimes.
[00:19:16] Felix: No, yeah, absolutely. And
[00:19:17] Lindsay: Look at you. What? It's crazy.
[00:19:20] Felix: It is, yeah. Unreal.
[00:19:22] Lindsay: Unreal. Okay. What is the thing that is a must-have that you can't live without, race-wise, lifestyle-wise, or otherwise?
[00:19:36] Felix: peanut butter
[00:19:37] Lindsay: Really?
[00:19:38] Felix: Yeah. Oh, yeah.
[00:19:40] Lindsay: What, like once a day or what?
[00:19:42] Felix: Probably, yes. I'll have a PB&J at any given time. I actually had one before the race.
[00:19:48] Lindsay: Really?
[00:19:48] Felix: Yeah.
[00:19:48] Lindsay: That was what...
[00:19:49] Felix: Was the winner, the winning food is right there.
[00:19:52] Lindsay: The winning... PB&J. Yeah. Any special kind of jelly or just-
[00:19:56] Felix: I'll go with any, like raspberry, blueberry.
[00:19:59] Lindsay: Okay.
[00:20:00] Felix: I found a new PB&J, peanut butter. It was called Teddie. Very good.
[00:20:05] Lindsay: Okay.
[00:20:05] Felix: Yeah. very good.
[00:20:06] Lindsay: Here in the US?
[00:20:07] Felix: Yeah.
[00:20:07] Lindsay: Okay.
[00:20:08] Felix: Yeah, that's my new fave.
[00:20:09] Lindsay: Lastly, the coolest thing that people don't know about Sweden.
[00:20:13] Felix: About Sweden?
[00:20:14] Lindsay: Yes.
[00:20:18] Felix: It's very dark in the winter and very bright in the summer. The coolest thing about Sweden, I think, is that we're kind of cool people. We're pretty calm. Probably not the most social. I've gotten a lot more social since I moved here.
[00:20:33] Really? I've definitely become Americanized in that sense. No, we're, we have done a lot of things as a small nation. I mean, we've, we have three Indy 500 winners for a nine-million-person nation. Amazing. We're... Yeah, we invented a lot of cool stuff. We're-
[00:20:50] Lindsay: LEGOs?
[00:20:51] Felix: That's Denmark.
[00:20:52] Lindsay: Like I said.
[00:20:53] Felix: IKEA
[00:20:53] Lindsay: IKEA.
[00:20:56] Felix: Yeah. No. A lot of… for a small country, it's probably 'cause it's so cold and dark that we're able to do some amazing things, so very proud of being a Swede.
[00:21:06] Lindsay: Awesome. Congratulations.
[00:21:07] Felix: Thank you.
[00:21:07] Lindsay: Indy 500 champ.
[00:21:08] Felix: Thank you very much.
[00:21:11] Lindsay: Also, did you know race car spelled backwards is race car?
[00:21:14] Isn't that a fun fact? Just thought I'd throw that in there. Oh my gosh, okay. One thing that Felix talked about that I just, I thought was pretty cool, being from Sweden, I was watching and could see all these flags and all these fans that were there for him. But he said that he hadn't felt like he was a fan favorite, but he had really started to feel the love, like over the past couple of weeks.
[00:21:36] And I, I think that's really, I love hearing that perspective from athletes, I think sometimes athletes are fan favorites, sometimes they're not. But I really think that plays into how they perform, and it's really, I thought it was in- really interesting and insightful. So, oh, Felix Rosenqvist, congratulations.
[00:21:55] Indy 500 winner. His face will be on the Borg-Warner Trophy forever. So cool. If you liked this episode, I hope that you'll share it with a friend. And as always, we want you to like, review, rate, subscribe, all the things. For our entire team at Things No One Tells You, thank you so much for listening and watching, and we will see you here next week.