David Malukas has made significant progress in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this season, coming into the Detroit Grand Prix with plenty of momentum. The 24-year-old Chicago native drives the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises and has moved from 18th to 10th in the season standings in just three races. His strong qualifying result at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear positions him to challenge for a breakthrough victory.
Qualifying Highlights Showcase Malukas’ Rising Form
Malukas secured the second starting position for Sunday’s race on the downtown Detroit street circuit, just behind Colton Herta of Andretti Global, who claimed the 15th pole of his career. Herta edged Malukas by 0.1713 seconds around the nine-turn, 1.645-mile course. Though narrowly missing out on the pole, Malukas expressed confidence that minor setup adjustments could have seen him take the top spot.
Malukas outqualified Kyle Kirkwood, the 2021 INDY NXT champion and a strong competitor who will start third. This marks Malukas’ third time starting from the second position in his 51 INDYCAR starts, with previous front-row starts occurring on oval tracks last year while he was with Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian.
Growing Team Synergy Drives Performance Gains
This season marks the first partnership between Malukas and A.J. Foyt Enterprises, and the driver credits the team‘s collaboration for his recent rise in competitiveness. He highlighted the support from Chevrolet trackside engineer Derek Miller as instrumental in fine-tuning the car’s setup to improve speed and handling.
“I think having that whole month (in Indianapolis), being with the (team) guys, understanding what we want (out of the car setup),”
Malukas said.
Having Clarience Technologies on board with us – those guys have been ecstatic. I think the mood has really lifted us up, and we can see this momentum carrying (on).
—David Malukas, INDYCAR driver
Malukas also expressed his enthusiasm for the team environment, stating,
“Man, what a good car, what a good group of guys here, what a good run here.”
—David Malukas, INDYCAR driver
Aiming for First INDYCAR Win at a Favorite Circuit
Despite strong performances, Malukas has yet to secure a race win in the series. His best finish came second at the 2022 World Wide Technology Raceway, where he finished between two prominent Team Penske drivers during a late-race battle. Josef Newgarden won that race, marking a notable contest that Malukas almost won.
Malukas is particularly excited about the Detroit race, which could be his best opportunity yet to break through for a first victory. While his previous start on this circuit resulted in a 23rd-place finish in 2023, the driver has a clear affinity for the technical layout and cooler weather, conditions he says have always suited him from his karting days.
“It’s something that I love, and I think (Saturday’s) cooler temperatures are something that I’ve always been suited to ever since go-karting as a little kid. Yeah, everything kind of lined up for us today.”
—David Malukas, INDYCAR driver
Malukas’ familiarity with the downtown Detroit circuit has grown since 2022 when he made his first Firestone Fast Six appearance there, starting sixth for Dale Coyne Racing w/HMD Motorsports. He described Detroit as key to his evolving career, calling it his “turnaround event.”
“That was kind of the first big transition for me, knowing that I actually had a strong opportunity to be quick and get good results here in INDYCAR,”
he said.
So, Detroit is my turnaround (event).
—David Malukas, INDYCAR driver
Looking Ahead: A Strong Contender for Victory
Sunday’s 100-lap Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix offers a promising platform for Malukas to further establish himself as a race winner in the INDYCAR series. With his recent progress, the strong support from A.J. Foyt Enterprises, and a keen understanding of the street circuit, Malukas is positioned to potentially capture his first win. Fans can watch the race live on FOX and listen via the INDYCAR Radio Network as Malukas pursues this critical milestone in his career.
