David Malukas stunned fans and competitors alike by recording the fastest lap during the second practice session of the Children’s Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. The 23-year-old AJ Foyt Racing driver posted an impressive 1 minute, 8.1661 seconds on dry tires before intensifying rain disrupted the session, preventing other drivers from challenging his benchmark time. This unexpected pace puts Malukas in a strong position ahead of qualifying as teams scramble to adapt to rapidly changing track conditions.
The 2.3-mile Birmingham road course faced increasing rainfall about halfway through the session, forcing most drivers to switch to rain tires with roughly 10 minutes remaining. Despite the wet conditions, three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou managed to set the fastest time on wets at 1:08.1958, though this was still over two-tenths slower than Malukas’ early dry lap. Following Palou, Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard secured third place with a time of 1:08.3082, while Will Power, a two-time Grand Prix of Alabama winner, posted fourth at 1:08.5496.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Louis Foster was fifth fastest in the wet session with a 1:08.5567, and Scott McLaughlin completed the top six with a 1:08.5815. The remaining top ten featured notable names including Robert Shwartzman, Santino Ferrucci, Kyle Kirkwood, and Conor Daly, underscoring the competitive nature of the field despite adverse weather conditions.
The practice session was not without incidents, as Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward crashed into the barriers at Turn 17, and Marcus Ericsson triggered a red flag by sliding into the gravel at Turn 13. These events added to the session’s chaotic atmosphere and further complicated teams’ efforts to gather data ahead of qualifying.
David Malukas expressed his excitement following the end of practice, highlighting the importance of his qualifying simulation run, which he completed moments before the rain intensified. Speaking in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by IndyCar, the Illinois-born driver said,
It was great to get that run in on dry tires before the rain came down. It really made the difference for us.
Reflecting on his challenging first practice session, where he finished 22nd with a time of 1:08.5594, Malukas added,
The first session was tough, but we made adjustments and came back stronger. This result shows we’re heading in the right direction.
His ability to rebound between sessions demonstrates determination and a growing comfort with the AJ Foyt car.
So far, David Malukas’ best qualifying result was 10th place at the Long Beach Grand Prix in California, and this strong practice performance suggests he may improve on that benchmark. As qualifying approaches, both Malukas and his team will be eager to convert this momentum into a favorable starting position, possibly upsetting expectations and challenging some of the traditional front-runners.
The significance of Malukas’ fastest lap extends beyond just practice times—it signals his rising competitiveness in the series and highlights his potential to be a serious contender during the weekend’s main events. With unpredictable weather and intense competition, the race at Barber Motorsports Park could shape up to be a pivotal moment for this young driver’s season.
