Team Penske driver David Malukas was ruled out of Saturday's IndyCar qualifying session at Nashville Superspeedway following a significant crash during practice.
Malukas, in his first season with the No. 12 Chevrolet, lost control of the car mid-corner, resulting in a heavy impact with the SAFER barrier. The crash significantly damaged the rear of his car. While Malukas was reported to be "awake, alert, and in good spirits" immediately after the incident, he was later taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
IndyCar veteran Conor Daly has been named as Malukas' replacement for qualifying. The team has not yet confirmed Daly's status for the remainder of the weekend, including Sunday's Music City Grand Prix. If Daly participates in qualifying, he will drive the remainder of the weekend, even if Malukas is cleared to return.
Prior to the crash, Malukas was already scheduled to take a nine-place grid penalty due to an unapproved engine change. If the car is repaired in time for qualifying, Daly's primary role will be to perform a shakedown run to ensure its readiness.
Malukas, 24, is currently fourth in the championship standings, 66 points behind leader Alex Palou. He has achieved one pole position, five top-five finishes, and nine top-10 finishes this season, including a second-place result at the Indianapolis 500. Earlier in the week, Malukas was among drivers who visited the White House in a preview event for the America 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.