From "sketchy" to "damn near perfect": David Malukas credits AJ Foyt Racing for turnaround at IndyCar at WWTR

AJ Foyt Racing star David Malukas, following the qualifying session at the World Wide Technology Raceway for the upcoming IndyCar race, explained how his team turned the #4 Chevrolet around after a sketchy practice session. The 23-year-old will start at the Gateway in P4 following a brilliant qualifying performance.

David Malukas made his AFR debut this season and has fared impressively but doesn't have the results to showcase for it. However, he equalled his career best result, finishing P2 at this year's Indy 500. The race at WWTR is only the second oval circuit of the season, and hopes were high for Malukas based on his Indianapolis 500 result.

David Malukas has a great record at the World Wide Technology Raceway. The American has participated in three IndyCar races around the 1.25-mile oval and has twice finished on the podium. The only time he failed to finish on the podium was when he retired from the race in 2024.

The 23-year-old finished the first practice session at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in P3 behind the Gateway specialist Josef Newgarden and his teammate Scott McLaughlin. Malukas was less than a tenth slower than Newgarden in practice but wasn't happy with his #4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet.

After the qualifying session,Malukas explained how he felt about the car after the first practice session:

“It was definitely sketchy for practice, but we still managed to do a good lap time, so we're happy. We knew that we would get the car in the window, so, by this time, as soon as we went out for qualifying, that was damn near perfect.” (1:15 onwards)

David Malukas was also asked about the second practice session, which took place after the qualifying session.

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David Malukas topped the final practice session at the World Wide Technology Raceway

FOX and IndyCar decided shifted the race at WWTR from an afternoon to a night race, i.e., primetime on a Sunday. However, to help the driver get a feel for the conditions during the race, the final practice session took place after qualifying under floodlights.

David Malukas, who had a strong showing in the first practice and qualifying, topped the final practice session at the World Wide Technology Raceway. The #4 AFR drivers set a best lap time of 00:25.4527 toward the end of the session. The American completed 63 laps in the final practice session.

Malukas’ raw pace at the WWTR this race weekend, in combination with his previous results at the circuit, makes him a strong candidate for the race win alongside Josef Newgarden.