David Malukas, overcoming a significant injury setback, secured a remarkable third-place finish at the 109th Indianapolis 500 while driving for AJ Foyt Racing, marking a major milestone in his career. The Chicago native’s resilient comeback after a broken wrist kept him sidelined during the previous year’s race, as he witnessed the event from the sidelines.
Originally signed as the full-time driver for the No. 6 Chevrolet with Arrow McLaren, Malukas faced an unexpected challenge when the team terminated his contract before he fully recovered. Despite this obstacle, he later found opportunities with Meyer Shank Racing and eventually earned a contract for the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season alongside Santino Ferrucci at AJ Foyt Racing. This sequence of events revitalized his racing career just in time for a stunning run in Indy’s marquee event.
Breaking Through at the Indianapolis 500 with AJ Foyt Racing
On race day, Malukas piloted the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet to a third-place finish in what is often called ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’. This achievement was not only a personal best but also a statement of his raw talent and strategic racing skills. Throughout much of the second half of the race, Malukas’ No. 4 car led the primary strategy pack and executed pit stops flawlessly, keeping him in legitimate contention for victory until the final laps.
Malukas reflected on the intensity of his near-win,
“I’m not going to lie, I was crying coming to the pits,”
he said.
“We were just so close to getting it. I mean, out of all the cars, we were number one until the end. He got lucky, lappers came in and he was able to get a run, we were leading so he was able to get a good tow, I mean he timed that perfectly.”
—David Malukas, Driver
Race Strategy and Performance in the Final Laps
Though Malukas only led two laps during the race, his strategic positioning kept him at the forefront for much of the competition. The alternate tire and fuel strategies deployed by other drivers influenced the late-race dynamics, but it was Malukas’ crew and his skillful fuel management that allowed him to maintain a competitive edge. The main challenger, Marcus Ericsson, chose to pit several laps later, which helped Ericsson surge toward the finish.
Malukas praised his team’s near-flawless effort, stating,
“From our side, we did everything absolutely perfect, we were the number one car, I mean, with pit stops, coming out, everybody saw when we came out of the pits there, we were ahead of everybody,”
—David Malukas, Driver. He also expressed mixed emotions as he recalled being a fan just a year earlier, sidelined from racing due to his injury.
“Now, I can say that I was a part of the [Indianapolis 500], and not just a part of it, but fighting for the win.”
—David Malukas, Driver
Implications for the Rest of the IndyCar Series Season
Malukas’ podium result sends a strong signal for his future within the NTT IndyCar Series, boosting him to 11th place in the points standings. With this momentum, he challenges established drivers such as Colton Herta and teammate Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global for a position inside the top 10. As the season continues, this breakthrough performance at one of motorsport’s most prestigious events may prove pivotal in shaping Malukas’ racing trajectory and solidifying his status in the highly competitive field.
