David Malukas hospitalized after Nashville practice crash
David Malukas was hospitalized for further testing after a heavy crash during Saturday's opening IndyCar practice for the Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. The Team Penske driver's wreck shortened the session, while Kyle Kirkwood led with a 197.097 mph lap.
Key Takeaways
- David Malukas was taken to a local hospital by private vehicle after a heavy Turn 2 crash in opening practice.
- Kyle Kirkwood topped the crash-shortened session at 197.097 mph for Andretti Global.
- Malukas still ranked third on the timesheets at 196.340 mph before the accident ended his day.
- Championship leader Alex Palou was second; qualifying is set for 3 p.m. ET Saturday.
The Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls weekend opened with drama on the 1.33-mile concrete oval. According to INDYCAR.com, the one-hour practice was cut to about 52 minutes after Malukas crashed roughly 19 minutes in.
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What happened to David Malukas in Nashville practice?
Malukas, in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, got loose in Turn 2 and half-spun into the SAFER Barrier, hitting heavily with the rear. The car suffered major rear damage.
He climbed out with help from the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team. Dr. Angi Fiege, INDYCAR deputy medical director, said Malukas was transported to a local hospital via private vehicle for further testing.
RACER reported the car stepped out and snapped backwards into the wall. Malukas played no further part in the session. He and Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard also face a nine-place grid penalty this weekend for an unapproved engine change.
Who led the crash-shortened IndyCar session?
Kirkwood's early 197.097 mph run in the No. 27 Sam's Club Honda stood as the fastest lap. He set that mark on his third lap, RACER noted, as the full 25-car field chased grip on a bumpy, green track.
"It's not easy for anyone out there," Kirkwood said. "Track is going to be pretty green right now, so we'll just work through it and try to keep it clean. Loose (handling), definitely."
Points leader and reigning champion Alex Palou was second at 196.966 mph in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Malukas' 196.340 mph held third. Felix Rosenqvist (196.249) and Santino Ferrucci (195.977) completed the top five.
All three Team Penske cars finished in the top seven. Reigning Nashville winner Josef Newgarden was sixth at 195.940 mph, with teammate Scott McLaughlin seventh at 195.907.
Ten minutes were added to the session to offset cleanup time after the crash, though the overall running window still finished short of the full hour.
What comes next at the Music City Grand Prix?
NTT P1 Award qualifying is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Saturday. The 300-lap race is set to start at about 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday, with live coverage on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio.
As of the practice report, Malukas' status beyond hospital testing was not detailed. His early speed showed Penske pace before the crash redefined the morning for the Music City Grand Prix field.