It’s now official, David Malukas has signed a deal to join Team Penske for the 2026 IndyCar season and beyond. He will replace Will Power as the Australian driver has headed to Andretti.
The two-time IndyCar champion and 2018 Indy 500 winner leaves Team Penske following a magnificent 16 years with the organisation.
Malukas has rebuilt his reputation following a career threatening injury picked up ahead of the 2024 season. Arrow McLaren had signed a deal with him but released the 23-year-old American following a slow recovery from it.
He returned to action in the second half of 2024 as Meyer Shank Racing put him alongside Felix Rosenqvist following the struggles of Tom Blomqvist earlier in the year. While no big results came, he impressed with his qualifying speed and showed he could handle the IndyCar machines once again.
AJ Foyt Racing came calling for David Malukas in 2025. He finished 2nd at the Indy 500 as the Chicago native recorded his best championship result with P11.
Nonetheless, more was on the table at times. Nashville was a great opportunity for a podium at least until he had that contact with Louis Foster. Cautions did not fall his way in other moments as well.
To date Malukas has three podiums in the IndyCar series. He also has qualified P2 on five occasions without quite getting a pole position to date.
David Malukas will drive the #12 in 2026 for Team Penske. He will be alongside two-time champion Josef Newgarden, as well as seven-time race winner Scott McLaughlin. It will be the first time since 2008 that Will Power will not be in one of their cars.
Roger Penske
“We are excited to add David Malukas as the next driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet.
“We feel that Team Penske will provide David everything needed to take the next step in his career, and we are confident that he will continue the great legacy of the Verizon Chevrolet.”
David Malukas
“Racing for Team Penske is the goal for every young racecar driver, and I am honored to be one that gets to live out that dream.
“Will Power is one of the legends of our sport and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet is one of the most-recognized cars on the grid. These are big shoes to fill, but I look at it as an opportunity because I know that it is one of the best teams in the paddock.”
