IndyCar driver David Malukas airlifted to local hospital after scary crash

David Malukas had to be airlifted to a hospital “for precautionary reasons” after getting into a scary crash on the 88th lap at Sunday’s Music City Grand Prix finale. 

The incident happened when he attempted to overtake British rookie Louis Foster and the two IndyCar drivers collided, sending Malukas spinning toward the top of the wall and slamming the rear of his car into it. 

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Malukas was audibly upset on the team radio before he was taken to the hospital.

“David’s doing well. He’s awake, he’s alert, he’s in really good spirits. We’re just sending him down to our trauma center for some precautionary evaluation and advanced imaging,’ IndyCar medical advisor Dr. Julia Vaizer told Fox Sports during the broadcast of the race. 

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“I heard he went to the hospital, so obviously I want to make sure he’s OK,” Foster said, per The Tennessean. “I’ve heard he’s somewhat OK, so that’s good to hear. I’ll text him to make sure he’s OK.”

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But he did not believe it was his fault for the crash.

“We were trying to stay on the lead lap,” he said. “I held my line. He turned out and into me. I couldn’t really do a lot about it. I think he tried to chop across in front of me, expecting me to back out of it more than I did. He just hit my front right. Luckily, I didn’t get any damage.”

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Malukas had been the runner-up at this year’s Indianapolis 500 and had finished eighth at last week’s Milwaukee Mile. 

Foster is among the names in the running for IndyCar’s Rookie of the Year, but the penalty could put his hopes for that in peril.