Yahoo Autos Malukas to miss $1m Thermal Club IndyCar race
David Malukas doesn’t like watching another person drive his race car, but he’ll need to adjust to that dynamic as the new Arrow McLaren driver will miss not only this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, but also IndyCar’s subsequent event at The Thermal Club — its non-championship $1 Million Challenge — as he recovers from injuries to his left wrist and fingers suffered during pre-season training.
“Thermal’s definitely going to be a no,” Malukas told RACER. “That’s still going to be in the recovery time, but everything after that is to be determined. Hopefully we can be there by Long Beach.
“I’m doing good. Recovery time is good; I’m on track, I’ve got fingers moving. Everything in the hand is good; it’s just a little bit in the wrist. That’s got to stay stationary. The plan is soon, in the next couple of weeks, I can start moving it.”
Malukas will be on the timing stand with the No. 6 Chevy team this weekend as his friend Callum Ilott steers the car on his behalf. According to Arrow McLaren, the team will wait until after St. Petersburg to name its driver for the March 22-24 testing and all-star event in Thermal, Calif.
“That is the toughest thing through all of this, seeing somebody else driving your car,” Malukas added. “I love Callum, though. Of all the drivers, Callum was the way to go.”
