Malukas Ready for Return After Nashville Practice Crash

Team Penske’s 24‑year‑old driver David Malukas has been cleared to return to the track for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway after a hard‑hit crash in opening practice.

Malukas missed qualifying because he was being evaluated at a local hospital, but he re‑joined the weekend’s high‑line and final practice sessions on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred roughly twenty minutes into the day’s opening session on the 1.33‑mile concrete oval. While driving the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet, Malukas lost control in Turn 2, half‑spun, and struck the outside wall. The impact was forceful enough to force his knee against the steering wheel, dislodging it from the column.

In addition, the SAFER Barrier sustained damage, prompting a lengthy stoppage as track crews repaired the wall. Repairs took more than twenty minutes, leading IndyCar officials to extend the practice session by ten minutes.

Malukas was assisted from the vehicle by the AMR Safety Team, walked away under his own power, and was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for.poly evaluation. Medical checks revealed no serious injuries; his only significant issue was severe bruising to his knee.

David Malukas, Team Penske

Photo by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen via Getty Images

“Everything is good,” Malukas said. “I will start from the back of the field in a backup car. I want to thank the AMR safety team, IndyCar personnel, and the hospital staff who helped. They were all on point, working efficiently under tight time constraints. Thankfully, everything came back clean. Nothing is broken or torn, which is remarkable given I literally had my knee against the wheel. I’m just badly bruised, but I got some المسلم with great people around me who massaged it.”

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