David Malukas “getting close” after strong runner-up result at Indy GP

TL;DR

David Malukas finished as the runner-up in the Indy GP, leading 27 laps before being overtaken by Christian Lundgaard. This marks Malukas's second podium finish of the season.

Key points

David Malukas finished second in the Indy GP
He led 27 laps during the race
Christian Lundgaard won the race
Malukas's finish is his highest this season
This is Malukas's second podium of the year

David MalukasChristian LundgaardIndy GPIndyCar Series

Motorsport photo

David Malukas continues to inch closer to that breakthrough maiden win in the IndyCar Series.

After starting fifth, the 24-year-old Chicagoan catapulted to the front amid a blend of varying strategies following, leading a race-high 27 of 85 laps in the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The potential win was in play, too, until Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard made a daring pass on the outside of Turn 2 and completed it at the exit of Turn 4 on Lap 68.

In the end, Malukas was left watching Lundgaard pull off into the distance to take the checkered flag directly ahead of him by 4.613s. It marks the second podium of the year for Team Penske’s newest driver, and highest finish through six races.

“We keep getting close,” Malukas said. “We keep getting close. Look, that race was honestly, it was very fortunate. We were having so much luck.”

David Malukas, Team Penske

And Malukas wasn’t afraid to address that, noting the opening lap incident in Turn 1 that saw Felix Rosenqvist accidentally make contact with front row starter Pato O'Ward and impact a couple of likely contenders.