Even in the wake of one of the toughest moments in his young racing career, the ever-witty David Malukas found a way to crack a joke.

"Going to stay away from bikes for a bit," Malukas wrote on Instagram Monday evening, alongside photos of the newest Arrow McLaren driver sporting a bandaged left hand, wrist and forearm.

Just over a week removed from a mountain biking accident where he tore multiple ligaments and dislocated his left wrist, Malukas now enters the early stages of a more than six-week recovery process that could keep him out of the car for the first two IndyCar weekends of the 2024 season. In a release last week, Arrow McLaren said doctors estimated Malukas would need roughly six weeks following the removal of his stitches (scheduled for this Thursday) to fully recover -- leaving him in early-April, well past the St. Pete season-opener (March 10) and the non-points $1 Million Challenge at The Thermal Club (March 24).

Just over five months since the public reveal of his leap from his first two seasons at Dale Coyne Racing to a top-tier opportunity at Arrow McLaren on a multi-year deal, Malukas's race weekend debut in papaya will have to wait more than a month.

"Firstly, I want to give a big thank you for all of the support from the fans and everyone involved in my recovery. It has been incredible and has helped me so much to get through these first few days after surgery," Malukas wrote Monday. "Through this time, I've been working on a recovery plan with many great people from all over to make sure I can get back in the car as soon as possible.

"I feel gutted for letting the team and sponsors down as we worked so hard this offseason to be ready and have so much to show. I will continue to do everything I can from outside the car to make sure that I'm ready to come back stronger and get some results with the team. Thank you once again to everyone for all the messages and the support. I'll see you on-track soon."

More: Ilott replacing Malukas in Homestead test ahead of possible St. Pete stand-in

Hours earlier, Arrow McLaren announced that ex-Juncos Hollinger Racing IndyCar driver Callum Ilott, who was among the shortlist of drivers considered to replace Felix Rosenqvist last summer after Alex Palou opted not to follow through on his signed deal with McLaren Racing, would test for the team this week on the Homestead road course in the injured 22-year-old's place.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: David Malukas: 'Going to stay away from bikes for a bit' after crash, surgery