David Malukas’ Surreal Practice Incident at Detroit Grand Prix

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear brought a wild mix of action, drama, and unexpected moments during Friday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice. From surreal, almost video-game-like incidents to clever strategies and shifting team dynamics, the session hinted at an electrifying weekend ahead.

Let’s dive into the standout moments, driver reactions, and some strategy tidbits from practice. There’s a lot to chew on as the race weekend gets underway.

David Malukas’ Virtual Reality Moment

David Malukas had a moment that honestly felt more like a video game than real life. As he eased off the throttle to find a clean lap around the tight, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit, something caught his eye.

He spotted Kyle Kirkwood’s No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda being pushed down the track by Will Power’s No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. This odd sight left Malukas briefly wondering if he’d slipped into a virtual world instead of sitting in the cockpit of his No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises.

Kirkwood and Power’s Unusual Encounter

The Kirkwood and Power incident just piled on the drama. Everyone needed a clear, traffic-free lap for qualifying simulations, so tempers were bound to flare.

Malukas slowed, Kirkwood got stuck, and Power came flying in. Power, frustrated, pushed Kirkwood’s car and then shoved him aside to open a gap. “I came around, and he (Kirkwood) slowed up in the middle and I made contact,” Power said. “So, I thought I may as well get a gap now, so I just pushed him by the car in front, then booted him out of the way and got a nice gap.”

Kirkwood still ended up fastest in the session with a lap of 1 minute, 1.7509 seconds. Power clocked in third at 1:02.3862. Kirkwood’s pace really showed off Andretti Autosport’s strength on street courses, and he sounded hopeful about keeping that speed all weekend.

Davey Hamilton’s Return to the Booth

Davey Hamilton, a former INDYCAR SERIES driver, made his way back to the INDYCAR Radio Network booth. He brought with him fresh knowledge after spending two weeks as a strategist for Jack Harvey’s No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVST Chevrolet during the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Getting hands-on with the current generation of INDYCAR machinery and strategies gave Hamilton a new perspective. He helped Harvey stay out under an early caution, shooting them up to fifth place on Lap 24.

Hamilton’s Strategic Insights

A brake issue cut their run short, but Hamilton gained valuable insight that he believes will make his booth commentary richer. “I learned so much that’s going to relate to the fan now that I can tell about the cars and what they’re going through,” Hamilton said.

He picked up fresh details about hybrids, aero settings, and the extra weight these cars carry. It’s stuff he’s eager to share, and you can tell he’s genuinely excited about it.

Team Penske’s Personnel Changes

Team Penske is sticking with the same personnel on its three timing stands this weekend in Detroit, just like at the 109th Indianapolis 500. Before the May 25 race, the team shuffled leadership due to a rule violation during “500” qualifying.

Team President Tim Cindric, INDYCAR Managing Director Ron Ruzewski, and INDYCAR General Manager Kyle Moyer were released, and their roles were reassigned.

New Roles and Responsibilities

For Newgarden, Luke Mason is the strategist and Raul Prados from the Porsche Penske Motorsport sports car team leads engineering. Ben Bretzman moved from engineer to strategist for McLaughlin, with Malcolm Finch stepping in as lead engineer.

Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Jonathan Diuguid is now Power’s strategist, while Dave Faustino stays on as lead engineer. Penske’s sports car folks have blended in smoothly with the INDYCAR crew, and it’s showing in practice performance.

Alex Palou’s Impact on F1 Drivers

Alex Palou, the first Spaniard to win the “500,” has caught the attention of Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr. Both are racing in Spain this weekend, and both made a point to praise Palou’s accomplishments in INDYCAR.

“I always rated Alex very highly because I was his teammate in cadet, and he was very quick in cadet karting,” Sainz said. Alonso, who’s tried the “500” three times, thinks Palou is taking Spanish motorsports to new levels.

Palou’s Influence on Spanish Motorsports

Alonso called Palou a legend for how he’s maximized every opportunity in INDYCAR. “Great for Spain,” Alonso said. “Great for him to have the Indy 500 now after winning the INDYCAR (championship) for a few consecutive seasons and now leading the championship, as well.”

Palou’s success has turned him into a bit of a hero back home, with fans and fellow drivers keeping a close eye on his every move.

Dale Coyne Racing’s Strategic Changes

Michael Cannon is back at Dale Coyne Racing, engineering Rinus VeeKay’s No. 18 askROI Honda. Cannon brings loads of experience to the team.

His return is part of a shakeup that also puts Mike Colliver in charge of Jacob Abel’s No. 51 Blue Oval SK Honda. VeeKay, who’s currently 12th in points with three top-10s, thinks Cannon can help the team take a step forward.

Cannon’s Impact on VeeKay’s Performance

VeeKay sounded genuinely excited about working with Cannon, especially given his knack for problem-solving. “He has a lot of info,” VeeKay said. “Like this season, we were kind of struggling with our brakes. He’s already found one solution and has a backup solution to that solution.”

VeeKay finished ninth in practice, which hints at some real progress thanks to Cannon’s input.

Grid Penalties for Rahal and Dixon

Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal will each serve six-position grid penalties for Sunday’s 100-lap race due to unapproved engine changes. Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda needed a new engine before the Indianapolis 500, and Rahal swapped engines on Miller Lite Carb Day.

Both teams broke specific INDYCAR rules, so the penalties stand.

Teammates’ Milestones and Momentum

Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen roll into this weekend with very different stories—but both have some momentum from the Indianapolis 500. Rossi led 14 laps, pushing him past 1,000 career INDYCAR SERIES laps led, while Rasmussen led his first-ever laps in the series.

Both are hoping to carry that energy into Detroit and put together another strong showing.

Chase Wright to Perform National Anthem

Country singer Chase Wright will perform the national anthem for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on June 15 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The Indiana native will also play a free concert to honor St. Louis-area first responders and relief workers after last week’s tornado.

Odds and Ends

Andretti Global brought Siemens on board as the main sponsor for Marcus Ericsson’s No. 28 Siemens Honda at this event. Siemens still backs Kyle Kirkwood, together with Amazon Web Services.

On Friday, drivers from Andretti Global, Team Penske, and Arrow McLaren posted eight of the twelve fastest times. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou landed 15th on the speed chart—not exactly where you’d expect him, honestly.

If you want more details on the practice session or the upcoming race, check out the official INDYCAR website. There’s always something interesting over there.