David Malukas will line up from the rear of the field at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix after his team elected to run a backup chassis following a severe qualifying crash.
Team Penske moves to spare car
While on the softer alternate compound, the Penske‑Chevrolet driver lost control entering Turn 7, struck the inside barrier, rebounded into the outer wall and suffered a hard impact that demolished the right‑front and right‑rear sections of the primary car. The extent of the damage prompted the crew to abandon the wrecked machine and prepare the team’s backup car for Sunday’s race.
What led to the incident
During the final seconds of the second qualifying group, Malukas attempted to correct a slight bobble on the approach to Turn 7. He kept the accelerator planted, hoping the car would hold, but the front end slipped, resulting in the violent double‑wall contact described above.
Starting position and outlook
The switch forces Malukas to start 25th, the back of the grid. He acknowledged the thin margin for error in Detroit, noting that the crash “was a massive hit” but expressing confidence in the team’s ability to devise a solid race strategy despite the setback.
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