INDYCAR

Malukas Scores First Career NTT IndyCar Pole at Phoenix for Team Penske

The NTT Indycar Series wrapped up it’s qualifying session for the ‘Good Ranchers 250’ at Phoenix Raceway on Friday afternoon with David Malukas scoring his first career pole in the No.12 Chevrolet for Team Penske with a top speed of 175.383 MPH.

The opening runs for the teams began smoothly with rookie Mick Schumacher, Santino Ferrucci, and Scott Dixon being the first three cars to start the session, but trouble would strike early for No.26 Andretti Global team of Will Power, who would lose control of hiss car on his second timed lap in turns one and two and backed the Honda into the outside retaining wall. Continuing what has been a struggling start to the season for the two-time series champion.

“The car was so much looser than it was this morning,” Power said. “A rough start to the year for sure.”

Qualifying for the rest of the afternoon would go smoothly, with Malukas being the 13th different car to go for a two-lap run. The 24-year old would pick up right where he left off after the early morning practice session, and hopes to keep himself there throughout the rest of the weekend.

“I’m so happy,” Malukas said, enthusiastically. “So many ‘P2’s’ but we finally got it.”

Official Qualifying Results:

1: David Malukas: Team Penske: 175.3 MPH

2: Josef Newgarden: Team Penske: 174.5 MPH

3: Graham Rahal: RLL Racing: 173.9 MPH

4: Mich Schumacher: RLL Racing: 173.6 MPH

5: Scott McLaughlin: Team Penske: 173.4 MPH

6: Alexander Rossi: Ed Carpenter Racing: 173.3 MPH

7: Pato O’Ward: Arrow McLaren: 173.3 MPH

8: Rinus Veekay: JHR: 173.2 MPH

9: Nolan Siegel: Arrow McLaren: 172.9 MPH

10: Alex Palou: Chip Ganassi Racing: 172.9 MPH