How David Malukas went from the hospital to third in Music City Grand Prix

LEBANON — David Malukas’ weekend looked over before the green flag waved. 

The Team Penske driver crashed four laps into the July 18 opening practice for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway, injuring his right knee when it struck the steering wheel. He was sent to a local hospital for evaluation, forcing him to miss qualifying and left him starting the race dead last.  

Malukas turned it into one of the best drives of his IndyCar career. 

He went from 25th to third in the July 20 race after leading 59 laps, his best finish at the Nashville oval and putting him second in the IndyCar standings behind race winner Alex Palou. Hendersonville native Josef Newgarden finished second.

“That was the best race that I think I’ve ever performed,” Malukas said. “I was pushing so hard with everything going on. This is definitely going to be one that I’m not going to forget for a very long time.” 

Malukas started strong after Team Penske vice president of competition Travis Law planned to keep the No. 12 Chevrolet on the track during the race’s opening caution on Lap 19, while all but four drivers pitted. The strategy put Malukas in the lead, where he stayed through multiple green-flag pit cycles despite driving on the worn primary tires.

“He’s just an absolute genius. He’s always seeing what’s going to happen. He put us on the right strategy, and we were able to jump the field,” Malukas said.  

He appeared to have the race under control until Lap 124.  

Malukas made his third and final pit stop from the lead on Lap 121. Three laps later, drivers Alexnder Rossi and Scott Dixon crashed, bringing out a caution before the rest of the leaders made their final pit stops. The yellow caution seemingly erased Malukas' advantage and saw him playing catch-up instead of defending the lead.

He made one final push in the remaining 25 laps, but ultimately fell short.

Malukas earned 36 points, leaving him 83 points behind Palou in the NTT IndyCar Series Championship standings, with five races remaining before the Aug. 9 race at Portland International Raceway. He said the extra day between Saturday’s crash and Monday’s race changed the outlook of the performance.

“Yesterday was survival, today was game on,” Malukas said. “Getting that extra night of sleep, I'm not gonna lie, I heard that rain on the bus, and I was like, 'Oh, that's nice.' "

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How David Malukas went from the hospital to third in Music City Grand Prix