Tag: David Malukas

Malukas Confirmed at Team Penske

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From Team Penske:

Team Penske announced today that it has signed David Malukas to a multiyear agreement to drive the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NICS) season and beyond. The 23-year-old becomes just the second driver to race the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet made famous by two-time NICS Champion (2014, 2022) and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power.

“We are excited to add David Malukas as the next driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet,” said Roger Penske. “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.”

A first generation Lithuanian American from Chicago, Malukas was drawn to the sport by watching his father, Henry, compete as a driver at the iconic Road America circuit. He began his karting career in 2013, scoring numerous wins and championships before moving on to the INDYCAR SERIES ladder system. Malukas won the INDY NXT presented by Firestone Rookie of the Year in 2019, setting the stage for his breakout season in 2021 when he won seven races and six pole positions to go with 16 podium finishes – a series record – in 20 starts on the way to a second-place finish in the standings.

Malukas made his NICS debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2022, tallying five top-five finishes and 16 top-10 finishes in 61 races in which he has competed through the 2025 season finale. His skill at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been noteworthy for a young driver; winning Rookie of the Year in the 2021 Indianapolis 500, taking the fastest lap of the race in 2022 and finishing second in 2025.

“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,” said Malukas. “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.”

Malukas will make his Team Penske debut in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet at the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 1.

O’Ward Wants Win from Pole

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Pato O’Ward has won poles. O’Ward has won races. He has never won a race where he started on the pole. He wants to win the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix tomorrow. Badly.

“I’m determined to make it happen tomorrow,” he declared.

O’Ward took his first oval pole today with a blistering first lap of 202.932 mph, and he averaged 202.621 mph for the two laps.

For the second week in a row, David Malukas qualified on the provisional pole and had to wait to see if any of the last 10 drivers to make their runs could top his 201.922 mph average.

Last week, Alex Palou, the last driver out, beat Malukas for the pole. This week O’Ward by just under seven tenths of a mile per hour.

A somewhat subdued Malukas said, “We’re gonna get there.”

Series champion Alex Palou will start fourh tomorrow.

Nolan Siegel posted the fast speed in the first group of qualifiers, then Josef Newgarden went to the top spot six drivers later. His time there lasted just five more runs until Malukas bumped him down. Malukas survived eight attempts until O’Ward’s scorching laps.

Notes and Quick Thoughts

All three Mclaren cars qualified in the top 10. Christian Lundgaard starts third, and Nolan Siegel rolls off seventh tomorrow.

Andretti Global dominated qualifying and the race last year with Kyle Kirkwood on the pole and Colton Herta winning the race, but they didn’t have the pace today. Kirkwood qualified 13th and Herta15th.

Christian Rasmussen qualified 16th, but will start 25th after serving an engine change penalty. It will be fun watching him come up through the field.

I can’t imagine the frustration David Malukas is going through to come so close to his first career pole and lose it at the last minute. He doesn’t have another chance for six months at St. Pete.

Silly season rumors continue to swirl. Herta going to F2 seems to be gaining momentum. He told FOX sports that he didn’t know if he will be in the number 26 next year.

I still think IndyCar needs to revamp oval qualifying and have the order based on practice speeds instead of point standings. I don’t think it would have changed much today as O’Ward would have been the last driver on track, and Malukas would have gone sixth from last. Still, with the points leader somewhere mid-session, there could be more drama.

Cars are back on track at 3:30 Central for high line groups, followed by a full practice at 4:30 Central. Both sessions are on FS2.

Drama, Chaos, Controversy, and Some Good On-Track Action Too-IndyCar 2024

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Photo by Kle McInnes

It was an exciting season for the NTT Indycar series in 2024. At times, the off track goings on overshadowed the racing product, which experienced an uneven tear.

From the St. Pete push to pass scandal to controversy with Agustin Canapino fans, charter talks, and driver popularity in their home country, fans did not lack for off track topics to discuss.

The delayed hybrid introduction, which didn’t come in until Mid Ohio, had little effect on the championship, although its dispute was inauspicious as Scott Dixon stalled in turn 5 of the pace lap.

The racing varied from snoozers to great6 as the series, teams, and Firestone worked to adjust to the extra weight of the new system. In the end they got it right as the races at Gateway and Milwaukee produced some great oval racing. Nashville was better than expected too.

In 2025 seven of the first eight tracks will see the hybrid in action for the first time., including the energy recovery system’s debut in the Indianapolis 500.

Drivers of Note

Obviously Alex Palou had a good year, but here I will recognize some drivers who had outstanding year which exceeded most people’s expectations.

Felix Rosenqvist– Rosenqvist won a pole and made the fast Six several times for Meyer Shank Racing. He hung around the top 10 in points for much of the season before ending up 12th. The team rewarded Rosenqvist with a two year extension. Rosenqvist is thriving after leaving Arrow mcLaren, and we should see the race results improve next year.

Santino Ferrucci – Ninth in the final standings, a frequent visitor to the top 10, and his first career pole, Ferrucci gave A. J. Foyt Racing their best season in a long time. With David Malukas as a teammate in 2025, I can see this team earning a few podiums and possibly winning a race next year.

David Malukas – jettisoned by Arrow McLaren when his preseason wrist injury did not heal, Malukas was signed by Meyer Shank Racing after the Indianapolis 500 and brought the floundering 66 car into the Leaders’ Circle. including a strong performance at Nashville where he contended for the lead. Malukas earned 148 points in little more than half a season. Teammate Rosenqvist had 306 points for a full year.

Returning to Form

Arrow McLaren and Andretti had difficult years in 2023, but both teams had a bit of a bounce back this season. Pato O’Ward won three times for Arrow McLaren, and Colton Herta won twice for Andretti Global. Both drivers had chances to win several other races.

Andretti retains the same lineup of Herta, Kyle Kirkwood, and Marcus Ericsson for 2025, while Arrow McLaren replaces Alexander Rossi with Christian Lundgaard. It would be nice to see these two in the mix every weekend.

The Pit Window Awards

The coveted Pit Window Awards go to:

Best races– Indianapolis 500; Milwaukee Race 1 and Milwaukee Race 2 in any order.

Worst races– Iowa race1 and Iowa race 2 in any order. I think Race 1 was slightly better.

Most Improved Driver– Santino Ferrucci. -He went from a 19th place finish in the points in 2023 to ninth this year.

Super Sub– Conor Daly. Daly replaced Agustin Canapino in the 78 and brought a struggling team into the Leaders’ Circle. When Daly retires, this award will be named after him.

Many Thanks

This column is nothing without the loyal readers who follow The Pit window. I appreciate all of you. Thank you for your continued support.

A huge thank you to Kyle McInnes, who shot most of the photos you saw here this season. Kyle added a lot to these posts. His artwork added a lot to this post.

Thank you to NBC for a decade of great coverage. You will be missed, FOX has a high bar to reach.

A shoutout to all the track media directors who kindly allowed me access. They have a thankless job, and I appreciate their giving me space to work.

Lastly, my travels would not be possible without the support of my partner in crime, er, life, Marti Strum, who encourages to go on these adventures, including the big one i took in June.

I will have some pieces on the Battle on the Bricks at IMS this weekend, although I am attending as a fan. Like an Indycar engine at 10,000 miles, I have reached my mileage limit.

Malukas Leads Practice

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Photo by Kyle McInnes

David Malukas continued his great run since joining Meyer Shank Racing by turning the fastest lap in the first practice at World Wide Technology Raceway. He edged Colton Herta by four tenths of a second.

The Andretti Global cars topped the charts in the first half of the session, but Herta was the only one who maintained his position.

Scott McLaughlin and Will Power were third and fourth fo Team Penske.

Alex Palou had the fifth fastest lap.

The session was stopped just once when linus Lundqvist stalled off of turn two.

Qualifying begins at 3:20 Central time.

Qualifying order is in inverse order of entrant points.

Results:

Malukas Signs with Foyt

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In a move that has caught many by surprise, David Malukas has signed with A. J. Foyt Racing for 2025. Malukas will finish the current season with Meyer Shank Racing, where he began his season at Mid Ohio after recovering from a preseason mountain biking accident.

The move looks questionable, but if the team’s alliance with Team Penske is factored in, the Foyt ride may be a place holder until Will Power retires. his is just a guess on my part.

Malukas had also spoken with MSR and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing about 2025.

The announcement from A. J. Foyt Racing:

HOUSTON (Aug. 13, 2024) – AJ Foyt Racing has signed rising star David Malukas to drive one of the team’s NTT INDYCAR Series Chevrolet-powered Dallaras in a multi-year deal starting in 2025.

 

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join AJ Foyt Racing,” Malukas said. “The team has performed very well this season and I can’t wait to get to work with them and immerse myself in that environment.”“The history and success of both AJ Foyt Racing and A.J. Foyt himself were key factors in my decision to join the team,” Malukas added.  “Everyone knows that A.J. is a legend and he was someone whose name I always heard growing up. To have the opportunity to work alongside him and drive for his team is very special. I am starting a new chapter in my INDYCAR career, and I am eager to achieve strong results with AJ Foyt Racing.”

 

Malukas, who turns 23 in September, was forced to sit out the beginning of the NTT INDYCAR Series season when he sustained torn ligaments in his left wrist from a mountain bike accident. Requiring several months to heal, Malukas returned to action in June piloting Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 66 entry. Impressive in his return, he has qualified in the top 12 in four of his last five races.

 

“David will be a great addition to AJ Foyt Racing,” said Team President Larry Foyt. “He is a fierce competitor who possesses a great deal of natural talent. I think David will be a super fit with our engineers and mechanics, and he will be an important factor as we continue to ascend the IndyCar rankings.”

 

When asked about goals for the 2025 season, the 2021 INDY NXT by Firestone Vice-Champion replied, “For me, the 2024 season was very chaotic and did not go to plan, so I am looking forward to a new beginning. I am mostly looking forward to being a part of such a special team. The recent alliance with Team Penske this season has clearly been beneficial, and I want to be sure that we build the right environment, not just for myself, but for the mechanics, engineers and everyone else who makes this all possible. In the few years I have been in INDYCAR, I have found that a strong team dynamic is crucial for success. As long as we focus on building good chemistry, I am confident that the results will follow.”

 

The 2025 NTT INDYCAR Series opens Sunday March 2nd with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which will be the first of all 17 races broadcast on FOX network television.

Photo Credits: INDYCAR Photos

Malukas to Meyer Shank for Rest of Season

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Editor’s note: Come on Indycar. I’m supposed to be on vacation. Anyway here is some good Indycar news from MSR.

David Malukas Joins Meyer Shank Racing 

Set to race the No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda for remainder of INDYCAR Season

Pataskala, Ohio (XX June 2024) – David Malukas will race in the Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda for for the remainder of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season starting with the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey on June 23. Ahead of his debut race with the team, Malukas will gain experience with MSR at the test at Milwaukee Speedway on June 11th.

Meyer Shank Racing will look to build momentum with the No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda entry, which will be driven in this weekend’s Xpel Grand Prix at Road America by Helio Castroneves.

“This whole process has been extremely difficult on myself and (team co-owner) Jim Meyer,” said Mike Shank. “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 Circle standings. We are pleased to have David (Malukas) join us as he has both experience and potential and we are looking forward to having him join us starting in Milwaukee for the test and then going racing with him at Laguna.”

Malukas had his 2024 plans change following a pre-season training injury, and the young American-Lithuanian racer is eager to open the next chapter in his INDYCAR career with MSR.

“I am extremely grateful to Jim Meyer, Mike Shank and the entire Meyer Shank Racing team for the opportunity to finish out the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES 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.”

Meyer Shank Racing thanks Tom Blomqvist for his efforts through the first six INDYCAR events and the Brit remains a part of the MSR family. 

Meyer Shank Racing heads to Road America this weekend with Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda) currently ninth in the championship points standings. Castroneves will sub one again in the No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda for the Road America weekend.

McLaren Releases Malukas

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Announcement from Arrow McLaren

David’s recovery timeline remains unclear

Arrow McLaren today announced that the team has released David Malukas for the remainder of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season due to him being unavailable for the entirety of the season to date, with no confirmed return date, as a result of a left wrist injury, which occurred February 11, in a mountain biking incident. 

The team has raced at four events with two different drivers, both who were new to the team following David’s incident and currently race in other series: Callum Ilott and Théo Pourchaire. 

David joined the team in September 2023 and was set to race his third NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with Arrow McLaren until this wrist injury sidelined him from races in St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, Long Beach and Barber Motorsports Park. 

Arrow McLaren is finalizing its driver assignments for the remainder of the 2024 season and will announce confirmations for upcoming races in due course.

David Malukas, Driver, said: 

“The past three months have been challenging. I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to drive for Arrow McLaren and regret that it never materialized. I would have loved to have continued representing the team and its partners going forward. They have been good, and I appreciate all they have done for me. 

“I’ve done everything possible to speed up the rehab process—treatments, physiotherapy, strength training—but my recovery has taken longer than anticipated. Every injury is different, and every body heals at a different pace. I’ll turn my full attention to getting back to 100 percent and then prove that I am ready and able to compete to win.” 

Update-Malukas out Six Weeks Malukas Injury May Delay His Season Debut

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An update- Marshall Pruett reports that Davis Malukas will be out six as his left wrist heals. His first would be Long Beach April 21

Athletes gonna Athlete. Sometimes their need to challenge themselves results in an off-season mishap. Arrow McLaren driver David Malukas fractured his hand in a mountain biking accident and had surgery yesterday. The injury will likely keep him out of next week’s testing and the full grid test at Sebring the last week of February. It may also prevent him from starting the season at St. Pete the weekend of March 8-10.

I think he will be in the car for the season opener. Other drivers have driven with broken hands before. Jimmie Johnson fractured a bone in his hand in a practice crash at Long Beach in 2022 and still drove in the race.

The injury carries a bit more significance for Malukas since this is his first season with Arrow McLaren. The team has shown little tolerance for drivers who don’t meet their standards. Missing the season opener will put Malukas in a difficult spot in the season standings. He will need to win a race to make up for it.

How restrictive can teams be in restricting their drivers’ off-season activities? Many teams don’t allow drivers to race in some other series, and there have been restrictions on things like skydiving in some contracts. Will this incident lead to more restrictive contracts in the future?

I wish David a speedy recovery. He is one of the best interviews in the paddock, and a great guy. I as hoping this would be his breakout season with a strong team. It still may be, but we might have to wait until midseason to see him realize his potential

Hybrid Testing Wrap-up

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If last week’s hybrid testing at IMS proved anything, is that the drivers are still uncertain how the new power tool will work during a race, how it will affect fuel mileage, and its effect on tire wear. Two of the drivers participating in the test, Marcus Ericsson and David Malukas, not only need to learn how to work the new hybrid system, but they also have the added burden of getting acquainted with new teams as well.

Ericsson and Malukas spoke to the media after the morning session on Friday.

Both drivers are excited about their new teams, and they are happy to get the opportunity to test so soon.

Ericsson likes that he is going o Andretti as a known quantity, unlike when he joined Ganassi four years ago.

Marcus Ericsson

“I hadn’t really shown what I can do (when joining Ganassi) and then now, coming from being a 500 winner, and then, winning multiple races. I think you can definitely feel that excitement from the organization and the team for me to get there and you know, I’m excited to get to get going and get working. I think, like I said, the potential is really big in the team…”

Ericsson said that the hybrid addition will keep the drivers even busier in the cockpit, but he thinks it will show which drivers really are the best.

“…on an oval you have the weight jacker, you have in front the rear bar and now you have to regen and deploy as well, so it’s getting busier in the cockpits I think that’s the biggest thing. And then we’re still working on you know, different things, which is you know, how much range and how much deploy and all that. There’s still a process that we’re going through that I think is exciting, it’s exciting, but it’s serious. It’s a really cool up here that we’re gonna have, and I’m hoping it’s gonna be a way where you can as a driver be, you know, smarter than your competitors and do it better than your competitors. “

Ericsson is thrilled that he has the opportunity to test with his new team so soon, and he hopes to get to do more testing to help him learn the team and the car.

Malukas was a bit overwhelmed at the wealth of resources he now has available at Arrow Mclaren, and he is excited to take advantage of them.

David Malukas

“I walked in and every quarter I looked around, obviously shining gold and like so many so much stuff. And you know coming in I don’t even know how to use it but thankfully they have you ever good. Everybody’s been super friendly and introducing everything to me. They can get comfortable. And specifically, Tony has been showing me the ropes. Like hey, so this is how you use this resource. This is what I think you should do and it’s really getting me comfortable and getting used to all these sporting resources.”

Like Ericsson, Malukas is excited to get some laps in the car with his new team, and he appreciates their trust in him.

“Yeah, they’re trusting me I can get the feedback and from my side, I just get to do laps and do more and more laps and at the end of the day, the more practice.”

He thinks the hybrid power system is a positive foir the series.

“I find it very good. I’ve you know been enjoying it. You know, it adds more tools for the drivers I feel like it can kind of separate you know, the drivers from the top to that the best to the worst on when it comes to hydroset. It’s another tool that you can time to regen once you deploy setup passes. I think it’s gonna have a bit of a bit of a big play here at the moment.”

Malukas isn’t sure what effect the added weight will have on tire wear. he was hoping they will get more information Friday afternoon.

” I think we’ll see by the end of today. Once we start doing a bit longer runs, being in traffic, seeing how it’s gonna play out but it all depends on when you want to use that extra power. You know, if you want to say the tire, use it on the straight, don’t use it in the corner and then it’s you know, you’re kind of saving the tire.”

There will be some more hybrid testing at different tracks before the end of the year, but testing isn’t racing. The big test will be at St. Pete in the season opener. Until then we have to wait and see.