No. 7 of 2022: Lundgaard Tops Malukas in Tight Rookie Fight

By Curt Cavin | Published: Dec 25, 2022

David Malukas Christian Lundgaard

Note: The editorial staff at INDYCAR.com is taking a look back at the 10 biggest moments of 2022 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.

A large and intriguing rookie class produced a fantastic championship pursuit this year in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing eventually won over David Malukas of Dale Coyne Racing with HMD and others, but it was a competitive battle to the end.

Lundgaard and Malukas each posted a second-place finish, and they were separated by just five points heading to the season-ending Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. There, Lundgaard posted his third Firestone Fast Six qualifying effort in the final four races and finished fifth while Malukas finished 13th. Their separation settled at 18 points.

Malukas was the top-finishing rookie in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in 16th, although the Rookie of the Year Award went to Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion making his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES start on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Johnson had won four NASCAR Brickyard 400s there.

Lundgaard scored his career-best second-place finish in the year’s second IMS road course race, the Gallagher Grand Prix. Malukas was second in the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on the World Wide Technology Raceway oval.

Both drivers also turned 21 this year.

Callum Ilott gave Juncos Hollinger Racing a strong season, with a front-row qualifying position at Laguna Seca his highlight. Reigning INDY NXT by Firestone champion Kyle Kirkwood drove the famous No. 14 car of AJ Foyt Racing, leading five laps in the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway and finishing a career-best 10th in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Tatiana Calderon was the season’s other rookie driver, making seven starts for AJ Foyt Racing, highlighted by a 15th-place finish in the GMR Grand Prix at IMS.