David Malukas qualified P2 at World Wide Technology Raceway after Alex Palou captured provisional pole with a two‑lap average speed of 174.353 mph, edging Malukas’s 173.244 mph by 0.3305 seconds around the 1.25‑mile egg‑shaped circuit.
Palou’s pole‑winning run eclipses the field
Chip Ganassi Racing’s four‑time champion delivered a decisive lap that placed him atop the standings, leaving the Penske rookie just shy of the top spot. The speed differential translated into a third‑of‑a‑second advantage, a sizable margin on a short oval where every hundredth counts.
Malukas stays unfazed and cites crew progress
“Not disappointed,” the 24‑year‑old said, emphasizing confidence in the Penske crew after a “guessing game” during practice. He noted that temperature shifts and late‑session runs gave the track extra grip, a factor that benefited the final qualifiers, including teammates Scott McLaughlin (fifth) and Josef Newgarden (eighth), as well as Kyle Kirkwood.
Malukas added that his team’s adjustments from first practice, where he had been sixth, helped lift his performance. “Going out last, I expected the pace to improve across the board,” he explained, acknowledging Palou’s advantage while praising the overall effort that secured a solid P2 start.
Implications for Penske’s #12 Chevrolet
Now piloting Penske’s #12 Chevrolet, Malukas returns to the venue where he first impressed as a 2022 rookie, finishing runner‑up behind Newgarden and ahead of McLaughlin. “It feels like everything has come full circle,” he reflected, calling the opportunity a personal milestone.
With the front row locked, Penske will look to convert the strong qualifying position into a race‑day result, aware that oval dynamics—yellow flags, strategic pit stops, and the inevitable variable of luck—could reshape the outcome.
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