By: Ashley McCubbin

After scoring a runner-up in the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires standings, David Malukas was one of a trio of drivers able to participate in an NTT IndyCar Series test as the next crop gets ready for the next phase of their career.

His reaction to those first laps behind the wheel? Incredibly fast, with lots of grip through the corners.

“I mean, it’s just incredible,” he told NEWS FROM THE PITS. “There’s so much speed. The one thing, the first lap I was just screaming the whole time because the car can just hold it. I couldn’t hold myself and the car was perfectly fine flat out through all the corners. That’s my biggest takeaway. Those tires can hold (smiling).”

He also felt prepared for the opportunity, adding that he felt the Indy Lights car was tougher to drive.

Fortunately, he will get to experience it plenty more times as he gets set to run the full 2022 schedule with Dale Coyne Racing.

“The opportunity that we have here is incredible really,” he commented. “I remember being a little kid actually, looking at the TV and seeing Scott Dixon, all of them drive. Now I’m going to be having the opportunity to go and compete side by side with them.

“To be with Dale Coyne Racing, as soon as I went in for my test at Barber, everyone is so friendly, like I’ve known them for years. We’ve had great connection. Since then we’ve just been looking forward for the season to start.”

Going into the year, he is keeping his expectations realistic, ready to learn from the veterans of the sport, whether in maturity or driving ability.

“For expectations for myself, I try not to set these really, really extremely high expectations,” he added. “If I don’t hit them, it will mentally scar me. Even if I say it won’t, I think it will. I just want to make sure that my mental state is always at 100% because I think that is the most important.”