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.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2iq9vw3MnDI

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/felix-rosenqvist-49

Check out more from Felix Rosenqvist on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/frosenqvist/

Support this podcast:

Follow Things No One Tells You on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thingsnoonetellsyoupod/

Stay connected with Lindsay at https://www.lindsaycz.com/ and follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycz/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

[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.

[00:00:47] 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.

[00:01:05] 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.

[00:01:43] 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.

[00:02:38] 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.

[00:03:24] 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.

[00:03:56] 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.

[00:04:10] Felix: I'm not sure how you do that.

[00:04:13] Felix: Yeah. There we are. Bearded winner.

[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.

[00:05:03] Lindsay: I mean, you're such a pure racer. What was going through your mind on that final lap and in those moments?

[00:05:35] 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.

[00:06:00] Lindsay: Why? For people who don't necessarily understand.

[00:06:37] Lindsay: So what did that feel like?

[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.

[00:07:29] 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?

[00:07:50] 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.

[00:08:03] Felix: With the same car.

[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.

[00:08:46] 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.

[00:09:07] Felix: Yep.

[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.

[00:10:05] 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.

[00:10:40] Lindsay: Why do you think it is? What do you think it is

[00:10:43] I feel maybe it's like the dad effect. I'm not sure.

[00:10:50] Felix: Yeah. I don't know.

[00:10:52] Felix: Yeah

[00:10:56] Felix: It's, I think, actually that made more difference than you think.

[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.

[00:12:08] Lindsay: What do you think it does for an athlete? 'Cause, athletes in other sports will say the same thing.

[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.

[00:13:03] 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-

[00:13:21] You're right.

[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.

[00:13:51] 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.

[00:14:29] 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.

[00:14:52] 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.

[00:15:48] 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

[00:16:13] 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.

[00:16:34] Felix: Probably my year in 2023 when there was a lot of talk about my career, and yeah, it was a difficult time.

[00:17:10] 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.

[00:17:49] Lindsay: Wow. Yeah...

[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.

[00:18:27] 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.

[00:18:48] Lindsay: Yes ...

[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] 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.

[00:19:17] Lindsay: Look at you. What? It's crazy.

[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?

[00:19:37] Lindsay: Really?

[00:19:40] Lindsay: What, like once a day or what?

[00:19:48] Lindsay: Really?

[00:19:48] Lindsay: That was what...

[00:19:52] Lindsay: The winning... PB&J. Yeah. Any special kind of jelly or just-

[00:19:59] Lindsay: Okay.

[00:20:05] Lindsay: Okay.

[00:20:06] Lindsay: Here in the US?

[00:20:07] Lindsay: Okay.

[00:20:09] Lindsay: Lastly, the coolest thing that people don't know about Sweden.

[00:20:14] Lindsay: Yes.

[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-

[00:20:51] Felix: That's Denmark.

[00:20:53] Felix: 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.

[00:21:07] Felix: Thank you.

[00:21:08] Felix: Thank you very much.

[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.

[00:21:55] 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.