David Malukas enters the upcoming Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway aiming to capture his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory, a milestone that has thus far eluded him despite strong performances. Having never won a series race at any track, Malukas has nonetheless proven his competitiveness at this 1.25-mile oval, finishing second as a rookie in 2022 and third in 2023, nearly securing his first win last year before contact with Will Power ended his charge. His renewed momentum this season makes him a driver to watch closely alongside five-time winner Josef Newgarden.
After a challenging start to the season, Malukas and AJ Foyt Racing have gained confidence and consistency. Following a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500 and a front-row starting spot at the Detroit Grand Prix, Malukas qualified fourth for this race in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet. The 24-year-old expects to build on this upward trend in performance.
Team Chemistry and Growth Fuel AJ Foyt Racing’s Progress
Malukas highlighted the challenges faced early in the season, noting the many changes within the team.
“There was a lot of talk in the beginning of the season of what’s going on, why we (weren’t stronger),”
he reflected.
“But we had a lot of changes with the team and new teammates coming in. I was brand new to the team, and a lot of new guys came onto the team. So, it takes time for these things to jell and start connecting and moving forward with the setup that we needed.”
He pointed to the intensity of the Month of May as pivotal to the team‘s turn toward greater cohesion.
“I said from the start of the season – to the team and to everybody — we were waiting for that Month of May, when we’re with the guys every single day. We wake up, it’s racing. You go to bed, it’s racing. It’s racing non-stop, and I think it showed,”
Malukas said.
Proven Skill at This Oval Track
Malukas’ affinity for World Wide Technology Raceway is well established. During his tenure in the INDY NXT by Firestone series, he earned a third-place finish as a rookie in 2019 and swept the following year’s doubleheader events, dominating from the pole position. Transitioning to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, he demonstrated his ability to compete at the front, engaging in fierce battles with top drivers like Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin.
His excitement on the radio during last year’s race captured the joy he finds in competition here, and his confidence continues to build.
“I do think that the recent success … is giving us confidence, and I think the second half of the season is going to be a really good turnaround for AJ Foyt Racing,”
Malukas stated.
Leading Practice Speeds Set the Stage
Confidence surrounding Malukas was reinforced by his performance during final practice, where he posted the fastest speed of 176.799 mph on worn Firestone Firehawk tires, besting his closest rival, Newgarden, who clocked 175.292 mph. Pole sitter Will Power recorded a more modest 172.880 mph, placing 16th in practice.
Scott Dixon’s Milestone Celebrated Amid Indy 500 Preparations
Though attention is focused on the upcoming race, the weekend also honors Scott Dixon for his historic accomplishment as the all-time leader in career NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts, surpassing Mario Andretti with his 408th start. Dixon, who has won here twice (2020, 2023), was presented with a framed green flag signed by the field, a tribute to his longevity and consistency in the sport.
Dixon will make his 410th career start Sunday and currently holds the record for most consecutive series starts at 347, with Tony Kanaan the only other driver to exceed 300 consecutive starts. Kanaan’s streak concluded at 318 starts. This race also marks a significant milestone for Graham Rahal, who is set to make his 300th career start, placing him among an elite group of drivers. Meanwhile, Will Power prepares to start on pole position for the 71st time, beginning from the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.
Robert Shwartzman and Eric Leichtle Reunite for Short-Oval Debut
Rookie Robert Shwartzman will make his short-oval debut at World Wide Technology Raceway armed with the expertise of Eric Leichtle, a former engineer for Josef Newgarden who guided Shwartzman during the Indianapolis 500. Shwartzman personally urged Leichtle to return, saying,
“Please, I beg you, come help me.”
Despite starting 24th this weekend, Shwartzman and the PREMA Racing Chevrolet team focus on improving their pit stops and capitalizing on the recent track test experience.
Drivers’ Performance History and Race Starting Positions
Pato O’Ward has yet to win at World Wide Technology Raceway but has been impressively consistent, with five top-four finishes in six starts before a mechanical failure caused a 26th-place finish last year. O’Ward will start third Sunday in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Alex Palou, who earned his first oval victory last month in the Indianapolis 500, has experienced mixed results on this track. Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, his average finish here is 10th, with last year’s fourth place his best. He qualified ninth for this race in the No. 10 Ridgeline Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Team Penske has dominated World Wide Technology Raceway with a record nine victories, led by Newgarden’s five wins and Will Power’s 2018 triumph. However, the team is still searching for its first victory of the 2024 season. Newgarden arrives starting fifth, with 599 career laps led here—the highest mark by any driver since the track’s return to the series in 2017.
Will Power’s pole position continues his record of 71 career poles, but no driver who has started on pole has won at World Wide Technology Raceway since its 2017 return. Additionally, the driver who leads the most laps has failed to win six of the past eight races, demonstrating the circuit’s unpredictability.
Honda’s Recent Success and Chevrolet’s Challenge
Honda has dominated the 2024 season, with all seven race wins credited to its drivers, including five by Alex Palou and two by Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global. The winning streak over the past two seasons reaches eight races, highlighting Honda’s strength on oval tracks. However, Chevrolet has secured the top five starting positions for this event, providing an opportunity to challenge Honda’s supremacy. The fastest Honda qualifier was Marcus Armstrong in the No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian.
Team Structure Adjustments at AJ Foyt Racing
AJ Foyt Racing recently promoted Mike Armbrester to technical director to lead its engineering department, while Adam Kolesar transitions to race engineer for Santino Ferrucci’s No. 14 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet. Kolesar previously served as the performance engineer for the team. Ferrucci brings a solid track record at WWTR, including a fourth-place finish in 2019 with Dale Coyne Racing. Both Ferrucci and Malukas have contributed to Foyt’s strong season; Malukas finished second at Indy, and Ferrucci took second in Detroit.
The team is attempting to achieve a top-three finish for the third consecutive race, an accomplishment not seen since Kenny Brack’s winning streak in 1998. For this race, Malukas starts fourth, while Ferrucci will line up 19th.
Rookie Standouts and Special Guest Appearances
Hailie Deegan has produced her best qualifying effort of her rookie INDY NXT by Firestone season by securing 10th place in the No. 38 HMD Motorsports car. This is her first oval race since joining INDYCAR development after years of experience racing on ovals in NASCAR and other stock car series.
The event’s grand marshal will be Scott “Riz” Rizzuto, a beloved St. Louis radio personality, who will have the honor of presiding over the race, adding to the local excitement and traditions of the weekend.
What to Expect as the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Unfolds
The race will feature 27 cars taking the green flag shortly after 8 p.m. ET, broadcast live on FOX, the FOX Sports app, and the INDYCAR Radio Network. With its unpredictable nature and fierce competition, World Wide Technology Raceway continues to be a proving ground for drivers and teams. David Malukas’ pursuit of his first series victory will be a focal point, especially as AJ Foyt Racing seeks to build on recent momentum and reestablish its presence among the top contenders this season.
Competition among established champions like Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Scott Dixon, combined with the rise of young talents and strategic team developments, ensures the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will provide thrilling racing action with implications for the championship battle ahead.
