David Malukas Turns Indy 500 Heartbreak into Championship Motivation

by William Gilhooly

Sportz Nation - 5/28/2026

Photo Credits to Brandon Badraoui/Lumen via Getty Images

0.0233 seconds.

He could have sat in his car for 10 straight minutes replaying it over and over again and who could blame him? Team Penske driver David Malukas had just lost the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 in the closest finish in 500 history.

Malukas who started 2nd following a caution on lap 197 that started the race back up with one lap to go. When the white flag dropped, Malukas made a brilliant outside move around turn one, quickly passing leader Marcus Armstrong. Malukas looked smooth heading into turn three getting up to 218 miles per hour and putting a 0.26 lead on Armstrong.

However, around turn four, Meyer Shank Racing driver Felix Rosenqvist was picking up speed and had closed the gap to less than 0.1. Malukas did his best to shake off Rosenqvist on the home straightaway however it was no match for the speed of the 60 car giving Rosenqvist his first ever Indy 500 win.

"Watching it, he just had such a big run," said Malukas. "There's nothing we could have--- yeah, there's just nothing. With the positioning, the timing of all of it, yeah there's nothing we could have done."

Even after loosing in nail-biting fashion, Malukas quickly got out of his car and received a quick hug from his Girlfriend Kamila Jurkus before the hardest interview of his life.

"Yeah, just had to get out, and it was a good decision to do", said Malukas. "Get out and just see everybody and kind of just let the emotions out because in the car it was not good thought."

Malukas, who finished second at last years 500 as well, received a lot of praise from his teammate Scott McLaughlin regarding how he handled the race. McLaughlin, who finished third this year knows a thing or two about devastating 500 experiences after crashing during the pacing laps of last years 500. "Yeah, it sucks", said McLaughlin. "Because I think if the pace is faster, it's a normal race, I think David squeezes one home."

Despite this agony, the 24-year old Malukas has found himself in great positioning almost halfway through the championship campaign. He is currently second in points standings at 236 points, 37 behind leader and three time consecutive champ Alex Palou. Malukas has placed in the top 10 in six of his seven races so far, and has placed in the top five in three of them.

And while the Chicago native is still searching for his first ever career race win, there is still plenty to be optimistic about in Malukas' corner.

"We're just going to use it as, like I said, more drive, more motivation, more push, and more obsession", said Malukas. "I think that's-- right now I'm just so obsessed, I just want to get this win."

-William Gilhooly