Meyer Shank Racing announces Tom Blomqvist replacement for rest of 2024

David Malukas will return to IndyCar at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on June 23 at Laguna Seca with Meyer Shank Racing.

He will drive No. 66 AutoNation/Arctic Wolf Honda, taking over from Helio Castroneves, who will compete the weekend in Wisconsin at Road America.

Malukas has endured a difficult 2024 and has yet to race this season. The 22-year-old injured his wrist in preseason as he was on the verge of making his debut for Arrow McLaren.

McLaren dropped Malukas in April “due to him being unavailable for the entirety of the season to date, with no confirmed return date,” but he has been given a lifeline to return to IndyCar from Laguna Seca onwards.

The American-Lithuanian driver is anticipating his return to IndyCar after a disrupted start to his campaign.

“I am extremely grateful to Jim Meyer, Mike Shank and the entire Meyer Shank Racing team for the opportunity to finish out the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season,” Malukas said. “Despite setbacks earlier this year, I have been diligently focusing on my recovery, putting in the necessary effort and dedication to get back to peak condition. I am ready and excited to be back in the car, aiming to make the most of this chance and deliver strong performances for the team and our supporters.”

Tom Blomqvist has subsequently been dropped for the rest of 2024 but remains part of the MSR group.

The British driver suffered a difficult month of May, culminating in crashing on the first lap of the Indy 500, which turned out to be his final IndyCar race to date.

Malukas is a very capable driver; he was establishing himself as a blisteringly fast competitor before his mountain biking accident in preseason.

He will be able to learn from his Swedish teammate, Felix Rosenqvist, and gain experience during a test at Milwaukee Speedway on June 11.