David Malukas dropped by McLaren after injured IndyCar driver misses 4th race following bike crash

David Malukas was released by Arrow McLaren on Monday without running an IndyCar race for the team because of injuries the 22-year-old suffered in an offseason mountain biking crash.

Malukas was signed in September to the three-car IndyCar team when McLaren was in a late scramble to fill a seat because two-time series champion Alex Palou breached his contract and declined to join the team as planned in 2024.

The job suddenly fell to Malukas, who was still looking for a confirmed third season in IndyCar. Although he’s done all the social media and marketing McLaren asked of him, he dislocated his wrist and tore tendons when he crashed on his mountain bike one month before the season-opening race.

The team believed the Feb. 11 accident would cost Malukas two races. But when he could not compete Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama, it was his fourth consecutive missed race and triggered a clause in his contract that allowed McLaren to terminate the deal.