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David Malukas Hospitalized After Heavy Crash During Nashville IndyCar Practice

David Malukas was transported to a local hospital after suffering a heavy crash into the SAFER Barrier during IndyCar practice at Nashville.

Asude Karataş • 18 Temmuz 2026 22:30 • 3 dk okuma • 12 görüntülenme

IndyCar driver David Malukas was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation after a significant crash during Saturday practice for the Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. The incident caused the one-hour practice session to be cut short by approximately eight minutes.

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The Incident
Practice Session Impact
Weekend Schedule

The Incident

Malukas, piloting the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, lost control in Turn 2 roughly 19 minutes into the opening practice session. His car executed a half-spin before striking the SAFER Barrier with considerable force to the rear section of the vehicle. The impact resulted in heavy structural damage, requiring response from the AMR IndyCar Safety Team to assist Malukas from the cockpit.

According to Dr. Angi Fiege, INDYCAR deputy medical director, Malukas was transported to a local hospital via private vehicle for additional medical testing. His condition following the crash has not yet been disclosed by IndyCar officials or Team Penske.

Practice Session Impact

Kyle Kirkwood established the fastest time in the abbreviated practice with a speed of 197.097 mph in the No. 27 Sam's Club Honda for Andretti Global. Malukas' best lap before the crash—196.340 mph—held the third-fastest position overall. Reigning series champion Alex Palou secured second place at 196.966 mph, while Felix Rosenqvist rounded out the top four at 196.249 mph.

All 25 drivers contended with challenging track conditions characterized by limited grip and surface irregularities across the 1.33-mile concrete oval. Team Penske occupied three of the top seven finishing positions, with Josef Newgarden in sixth place and Scott McLaughlin in seventh, both ahead of Sunday's racing schedule.

Weekend Schedule

Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award took place at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the 300-lap race scheduled to commence approximately 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. Live coverage of both sessions aired on FOX, FOX One, and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

What caused David Malukas' crash?+

Malukas lost control of his car in Turn 2, causing it to spin and strike the SAFER Barrier with the rear end. Slippery track conditions and surface bumps affected all drivers during practice.

Was David Malukas injured in the crash?+

Malukas was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation and testing. His exact condition has not been publicly disclosed by IndyCar or Team Penske officials.

Did the crash affect the practice session schedule?+

Yes, the practice session was shortened from one hour to approximately 52 minutes due to the incident and track cleanup requirements.

What is Malukas' fastest lap time in practice?+

Before the crash, Malukas' best lap was 196.340 mph, which stood as the third-fastest time of the session overall.

When is the Music City Grand Prix race scheduled?+

The 300-lap race is scheduled to start approximately 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway, with qualifying held earlier in the afternoon.

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