Meyer Shank Racing has signed David Malukas to race for the team starting from the end of the month, replacing Tom Blomqvist.
Malukas impressed in his first two IndyCar seasons at Dale Coyne before joining McLaren for 2024, only to fracture his wrist in a mountain bike injury pre-season.
He was expected to return for the third event of the year but his recovery timeline was pushed back and McLaren announced it was releasing him at the beginning of May, prior to the Indy road course race.
Blomqvist - well known to Shank in sportscars, having won the IMSA SportsCar Championship with the team in 2022 - did three races last season in place of the injured Simon Pagenaud and got the full-time drive for 2024.
But a tough start to the season - including a crash at the first corner on the first lap of the Indianapolis 500 - led to him being dropped and replaced by Helio Castroneves at the previous race in Detroit and for this weekend’s Road America event.
Malukas will take over that seat for the remainder of the season thereafter, starting at Laguna Seca on June 23.
“I am extremely grateful to [team co-owners] Jim Meyer, Mike Shank and the entire Meyer Shank Racing team for the opportunity to finish out the 2024 IndyCar season,” said Malukas.
“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.
“This opportunity means a great deal to me, and I am determined to repay the faith shown in me with my best efforts on the track.”
Mike Shank said the "whole process" - which will have included the decision to drop Blomqvist - "has been extremely difficult" for him and fellow co-owner Meyer.
“There were so many things for us to consider as we need to do everything we can to make up ground in the championship and Leader's Circle standings [for the top 22 cars in the series]," said Shank.
“We are pleased to have David Malukas join us as he has both experience and potential and we are looking forward to having him start with us in Milwaukee for the test and then go racing with him at Laguna.”
The Milwaukee test Shank mentions takes place on June 11 where Malukas will drive Shank's car for the first time.
The team is on a roll with its other new signing Felix Rosenqvist, who has finished in the top 10 at all but one race this year (in the Indy 500, where his engine failed).
Malukas would, coincidentally, effectively have been McLaren's replacement for Rosenqvist had he not been injured and subsequently released.
Shank's announcement thanked Blomqvist "for his efforts" and added that he "remains a part of the MSR family".
The team is expected to return to sportscar racing next year but isn't competing in IMSA this season.
