Malukas airlifted for evaluation after Nashville crash

The hard hit that took David Malukas out of the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Speedway sent the AJ Foyt Racing to the infield care center for evaluation by the IndyCar Medical team.

While there, IndyCar medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer decided the AJ Foyt Racing driver needed more attention and sent him to a local hospital via helicopter for further evaluation.

“He's awake. He's alert. He’s in really good spirits,” Dr. Vaizer said. “We're just sending him down to our trauma center for some precautionary evaluation.”

Malukas was running as high as second early in the race, and while attempting to pass Louis Foster in the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda, Foster weaved and blocked Malukas leading into Turn 1, which was later met with a drive-through penalty. Once in the corner, the two made contact where Malukas rotated and struck the wall with the back of his car.

The Illinois native was slow to emerge from the car and proceeded to sit on the sidepod for a few moments before being taken to IndyCar Medical.

At 6:14 p.m. ET, IndyCar provided an update supplied by the Foyt team that Malukas had been released from the hospital.