Poleman in Phoenix, "Little Dave" Malukas wants to become big

Having joined Team Penske to replace Will Power, David Malukas could legitimately feel a sense of unfinished business after his first race in the No. 12 Dallara-Chevrolet at St. Petersburg, Florida, last week. While he qualified on the third row of the grid, the American suffered a puncture early in the race, caused by a wheel lock-up. This left him with a disappointing thirteenth-place finish.

On a circuit particularly suited to the Penske cars, Malukas knew he had a chance to secure his first career pole position. He converted that opportunity on his first attempt, ahead of his teammate Josef Newgarden. The third Penske, driven by Scott McLaughlin, will start from fifth position.

“It feels good. I’ve had so many moments where I was close (to pole)… Last year, history repeated itself: we were virtually on pole because we started near the front due to the championship standings, then at the last moment, we dropped back to second or third place. This time, I knew my run was really good.”

While joining one of the championship's top teams, which boasts a record twenty Indianapolis 500 victories, comes with a certain amount of pressure, the Chicago driver believes it will help him flourish and dig deep when the races demand it. So far, he's certainly proving it!

“For me, driving for Team Penske has always been a dream. To drive a car with such a heritage, the No. 12, with all its history and the incredible name of Will Power who brought it two championships… I grew up watching him on TV. There is pressure, for sure, but it’s a pressure that excites me and in which I think I thrive.”

Soon to be "Big Dave"?

Starting from pole position this Saturday evening at 21:20 PM French time, can Malukas convert that pole position into a victory? Having impressed from his very first seasons with Dale Coyne on similar circuits like Gateway, feeling like "Little Dave" amidst the giants of the sport, he's ready to take the next step...

“I gave myself that nickname in 2022 or 2023… my voice was still high-pitched, I didn’t have a beard. But now, I’m really pushing hard to win and finally get rid of it. My number one motivation is that people can finally call me ‘Big Dave’.”

To achieve this, they will need to prevail after 250 laps of racing, on a circuit where theIndyCar This hadn't happened since 2018. Back then, the Aeroscreen wasn't fixed to the cars, so the aerodynamic balance was quite different. Malukas, meanwhile, was still four years away from making his IndyCar debut. While starting position isn't everything on these tracks, starting at the front of the pack is a real advantage.

"The goal was to be in the top 5, because from there everyone has an equal chance of winning. Starting from pole is a small bonus, but the race will be a completely different scenario. On an oval, you always end up in traffic, so we want to make sure the car is fast even without clean air."

ALSO READ > Phoenix – Qualifying: First pole for Malukas, Grosjean at the back of the grid