The Transient
Chicago native David Malukas finishes third on the 2025 Indianapolis 500
Only one yr after lacking the race with a wrist harm, he returned to contend for the win
Malukas credit his household, heritage, and new workforce for serving to him rediscover his momentum
CHICAGO – ’s personal David Malukas says his podium end on the is a second he gained’t neglect.
What we all know
Malukas, who drives for AJ Foyt Racing, completed third in Sunday’s race—his finest consequence but at Indy. He says the efficiency was a workforce effort and that every thing clicked from the second they arrived.
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“As quickly as we unloaded, the automobile was proper the place it wanted to be,” Malukas mentioned. “We have been so shut ultimately, however lap automobiles form of ruined our possibilities.”
The 22-year-old driver mentioned the chaos of early crashes and climate delays made it troublesome to discover a rhythm.
David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet watches throughout {qualifications} for the NTT IndyCar Sequence 109th Working of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Pictures/LightRocket through Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
“Truthfully, it wasn’t till 40, 50 laps in that I might actually get right into a rhythm,” he mentioned—including that he spent a lot of the early race simply attempting to focus. “I’m like, man, we have to get this race began as a result of I have to get my thoughts simply in racing mode and never be distracted.”
On race day, his household was simply as locked in.
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“Individuals have been telling me they’d to verify my mother was okay due to the strain she was feeling,” Malukas mentioned. “My dad hugged me proper after and I advised him to settle down—I nonetheless hadn’t gone to the lavatory but!”
The backstory
A yr in the past, Malukas was on the sidelines with a critical wrist harm and labored with the IndyCar media crew throughout race week. He watched the five hundred from the stands and mentioned being a spectator gave him a complete new appreciation for the game.
“You don’t hear the vitality within the automobile such as you do within the stands,” he mentioned. “It’s not like something I’ve ever skilled.”
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That perspective formed his strategy this yr.
“It simply feels so good to lastly be again into it—and never simply again, however combating for a win,” he mentioned.
Native perspective
Racing has all the time been part of David Malukas’ story. He first acquired behind the wheel of a go-kart at age seven, bonding along with his father on weekends at a monitor close to Chicago.
“It was nothing that we took critical,” he mentioned. “It was simply one thing—let’s have some enjoyable on the weekends.”
However because the wins began to return and his expertise sharpened, it turned clear he had a future within the sport. By age 14 or 15, Malukas and his household realized he had the expertise to pursue racing professionally. That journey has all the time been rooted in household.
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“My dad was capable of stay his dream of being a race automobile driver by me,” he mentioned.
Malukas is the son of Lithuanian immigrants who got here to Chicago after the collapse of the Soviet Union. His father began as a truck driver, his mom a dispatcher. Collectively, they constructed a profitable firm with a whole lot of vehicles—and used that success to help David’s racing dream.
“They’re all the time there supporting me—he nearly will get extra excited than I do,” Malukas mentioned of his dad.
What’s subsequent
Malukas says his robust consequence at Indy is a turning level for him and the workforce.
“It’s my first yr with AJ Foyt Racing,” he mentioned, “and we’ve been constructing chemistry. To have this month, working every single day with the workforce, constructing that connection—it actually helped us get right here.”
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Malukas says he is hopeful that momentum will carry by the remainder of the season.
“We’re over the world with pleasure,” he mentioned. “I feel for the remainder of the season we’ll be capable of carry this robust vitality to complete off with many extra good outcomes.”
Malukas subsequent races in Detroit this weekend.
The Supply
This story relies on a one-on-one interview between Fox 32’s Tina Nguyen and IndyCar driver David Malukas.
