After being released from Arrow McLaren SP earlier this season, David Malukas has found a new home at Meyer Shank Racing. Malukas will be racing the No. 66 for the rest of the season with the team.
Malukas’ season seemed to end after being let go by Arrow, but as of June 7th, he signed with the team and will replace Tom Blomqvist. Blomqvist will no longer race for the team due to the team’s current position in the Leader’s Circle. The Leader’s Circle is a financial distribution program that divides the prize money among the top 22 drivers in the standings from the season before. Helio Castroneves, who has a minor ownership in MSR, explained why the decision was made.
“We've got to be able to not have the same situation that we had last year. And this is a track that Tom has never been to, so we decided just a little more experience would be better for us to hopefully, collect points and move forward,” said Castroneves.
Throughout the process, Malukas has been training with the team and will have driven his first race with the team at Laguna Seca for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterrey. Malukas is excited to work with the team and is very grateful to them for giving him a second chance in his career.
Courtesy of Motorsport.com
"I am ready and excited to be back in the car, aiming to make the most of this chance and deliver strong performances for the team and our supporters. This opportunity means a great deal to me, and I am determined to repay the faith shown in me with my best efforts on the track,” said Malukas.
Malukas will be racing alongside ex-Arrow McLaren SP driver Felix Rosenqvist, whose seat he had replaced in Arrow. The third-year driver will bring a new dynamic to the team with the already experienced sixth-year driver and seems to be the missing piece that the team needs. Malukas brings the young Gen Z energy that has captured the hearts of many fans on social media and has allowed for Indy Car to become more interesting, while Rosenqvist brings in the six-year experience that Malukas can learn from. After all, the duo seems to be getting along just fine.
Courtesy of IndyCar.com
“Felix was actually the first driver to come up to me when I first joined the IndyCar Series, to introduce me to the paddock, the series,” said Malukas. “He is literally the nicest guy on the field. Having him as a teammate, he’s also very talented, he’s had an incredible season.”
Courtesy of IndyCar.com
Malukas is already showing his worth to the team by qualifying in 12th place at the Firestone Grand Prix. Although he managed to finish in 16th place in the race, his dedication to not only recovering from the injury fully but also to the team is a characteristic that is not overlooked. As the season goes on, Meyer Shank Racing and IndyCar fans are excited for Malukas’ return to the track.
Edited by: Sarah Muñoz