Tag: Team Penske

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.

Mid Ohio Saturday

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Today’s schedule:

TimeSeriesSession
8:35 AM – 9:20 AMINDY NXT by FirestonePractice 2
9:40 AM – 10:15 AMUSF Juniors Race 2
10:35 AM – 11:35 AM NTT INDYCAR SERIESPractice 2
11:00 AM – 2:00 PMFishing with Cabela’sMeet at the pond south of the Mid-Ohio Tower
11:55 AM – 12:45 PMUSF Pro 2000Race 1
1:30 PM – 2:00 PMINDY NXT by FirestoneQualifying 
1:30 PM – 1:50 PMUSF JuniorsAutograph Session in the Middle Paddock
2:00 PM – 2:20 PMUSF2000Autograph Session in the Middle Paddock
2:30 PM – 2:50 PMUSF Pro 2000Autograph Session in the Middle Paddock
2:35 PM – 4:00 PMNTT INDYCAR SERIESQualifying
4:15 PM – 5:00 PMINDY NXT by FirestoneAutograph Session at American Legion in the Midway
4:20 PM – 5:00 PMUSF2000Race 2
After QualifyingCamping with HondaHonda IndyCar drivers will tour the campground
5:15 PM – 6:05 PMUSF Pro 2000Race 2
7:00 PMMovie in the EssesDisney’s “Cars” on the big screen between Turns 4 & 5
DuskFireworks ShowSunset at 9:05 PM 

Another hot day on tap for this afternoon. . If you’re coming to the track, wear light colored clothing, hydrate, and seek shade.

Yesterday Team Penske formalized their new leadership roles, promoting two people who had been working with their Porsche program. Jonathan Duguid, who has been with the team since 2005, is the new president of Penske Racing Inc., covering Indycar and sports cars. Duguid had been managing director of Porsche Penske Motorsport.

Travis Law is now competition director of Penske Racing Inc. Law has been with Team Penske since 2007 and had been director of competition for Porsche Penske Motorsport.

It looks like a fairly seamless transition for the team, and I think they will get the teamback to its usual standard rather quickly. Team Penske cars were among the leaders in yesterday’s mpractice, and I expect them to do well in qualifying today.

I’ll be back after this morning’s practice with results and qualifying groups.

The Penske File- Some Thoughts

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For want of a nail… And to think IndyCar got into this mess because someone didn’t like the look of the attenuator.

To recap- The Team Penske cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power were excluding from qualifying Sunday because they failed technical inspection. On Monday the two cars were moved to the rear of the field, crew chiefs were suspended, and each car assessed a $100,000 fine.

Roger Penske took appropriate action yesterday in firing Tim Cindric, Rob Ruzewski, and Kyle Moyer. After two scandals in 14 months, and a growing sense of favoritism toward Team Penske cars in the paddock, there was little else he could do. The team has divested itself of nearly 50 years of experience.

Time will tell if Penske’s actions today are sufficient or too little, too late. The series needs to accelerate plans for the new car and engine formula, and an independent body to operate the races. Positive momentum needs to get reestablished, and a good race on Sunday would be a start.

For me, the optics of the situation exacerbated what I thought to be sketchy rulings at times favoring the Penske cars. At the same while I agree with the penalties assessed, I’m wondering if the series was bending too far to look as if no favoritism was shown. Again, it’s all about optics.

Doug Boles said today that inspections focus on per4formance features and not safety features. While I understand that priority, shouldn’t safety components get a look once in a while too? What if a part is mounted incorrectly? What if a part is damaged or worn? We do not want safety compromised.

Marshall Pruett of RACER is reporting tonight that an independent group to govern the race events- technical inspections and on track activities- is n the process of being formed. The target date was set for 2027, but as Pruett suggested, next year would be a much better starting point.

Why, wondered this humble blogger, was this not done the day after Penske bought the series? I actually had this thought while I attended the press conference announcing Penske’s purchase of IMS, the IndyCar series, and IMS Productions. Conflict of interest was my first thought, and how to avoid it was my second one.

The IndyCar series is entering what should be its greatest Indianapolis 500 weekend in years. The grandstands are sold out, and the momentum surrounding this year’s race is the strongest since 2016.

Sunday’s green flag cannot come soon enough.

Penske Fires Cindric, Ruzewski, Moyer

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Editor’s note: The following is from the NTT IndyCar Series. I will have comments later today.

Team Penske Parts Company with Three Members of Management

INDYCAR

INDYCAR.com

Editorial Staff

1 HOUR AGO

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Team Penske parted company May 21 with Team President Tim Cindric, INDYCAR Managing Director Ron Ruzewski and INDYCAR General Manager Kyle Moyer from the organization after two of the team’s entries were found in violation of INDYCAR rules last weekend.

“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams,” Roger Penske said. “We have had organizational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down.”

The team’s No. 2 and No. 12 cars did not make an attempt Sunday during the Top 12 Qualifying session for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge because they were found in pre-qualifying technical inspection to be in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16, an unapproved body fit on the rear attenuator of the car. Those entries were moved to the rear of the field, starting 32nd and 33rd, respectively, for the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday, and each entry was fined $100,000 by INDYCAR.

Last year at the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, Florida, Team Penske was in violation of the two “Push to Pass” parameters, INDYCAR Rule 14.19.15 and 14.19.16. The team’s No. 2 and No. 3 entries were disqualified from that event, and its No. 12 entry received a 10-point penalty.

A team statement said further announcements will be made this week related to personnel and replacements for the Indianapolis 500.

Cindric joined Team Penske at the end of the 1999 INDYCAR SERIES season as the president of Penske Racing Inc. He was elevated to the role of president of Penske Performance in 2005.

Ruzewski came to the team at the start of the 2005 INDYCAR SERIES season. He was named managing director before the 2019 season after serving as the team’s technical director.

Moyer joined Team Penske before the 2015 INDYCAR SERIES season. He moved into the role as general manager for Team Penske’s INDYCAR SERIES program in 2019.

INDYCAR Update on Team Penske Technical Violations 

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Hang onto your hats, folks.
 INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, May 19, 2025) – Yesterday, INDYCAR’s focus was ensuring that the series had all the facts related to the discovery of the modified attenuators on the Team Penske entries of Nos. 2 and 12 to verify they were in violation of INDYCAR Rule 14.7.8.16.
After the series confirmed the technical infraction, by rule, the violating cars were placed in the last positions of the qualifying session for which they qualified.
Upon further review last night and early this morning, INDYCAR will be moving cars No. 2 and 12 to the 32nd and 33rd starting positions for this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. They will start in order based upon their qualifying times from Saturday.
“The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance.”
Car No. 3 did not attempt to qualify Sunday in the Top 12 because of an accident in the earlier afternoon’s practice. Upon review of the car, and INDYCAR impounding the No. 3 attenuator, INDYCAR found that the car was in fact using a legal and unmodified attenuator. Therefore, car No. 3 will start in the 10th spot – the final spot of those who had qualified to participate in the Top 12.
Additionally, INDYCAR is suspending the team strategists for the Nos. 2 and 12 for the remainder of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, both cars will forfeit Indianapolis 500 qualification points and each entry has been fined $100,000.
Car Nos. 2 and 12 also will forfeit their pit positions and will select their pit boxes after the remainder of the field has an opportunity to adjust accordingly.
“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field,” Boles said. “As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.”

Long Beach Practice 1:Two Team Battle Shaping Up

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While I don’t put a lot of stock in Friday practice, it5 appears that supremacy by the seas may come down to Penske versus Andretti. Will Power grabbed the top spot on his final lap, nipping Marcus Ericsson, who was just 0.002 seconds ahead of his teammate Kyle Kirkwood. Power’s stablemate Josef Newgarden finished sixth overall, but he led part of the 45 minute portion of the split practice.

Points leader Alex Palou was seventh quick, the fastest of the Ganassi cars.

Meyer Shank racing had a strong showing, with Marcus Armstrong fourth and Felix Rosenqvist fifth.

Notes

The grandstands in turns nine and 10 were nearly at capacity for practice. I haven’t been to Long Beach in three years, but I don’t remember the seats this full for the first practice.

The Grand Prix organization has gone all out to mark the 50th anniversary of a race on the streets. Their merchandise booth has very nice commemorative shirts and outerwear.

For the Golden Anniversary, even the event cars are gold.

IndyCar practice 2 is at 8:30 am Pacific, and qualifying is at 11:30 PT.

IMSA note– Robert Wickens just qualified eighth for tomorrow’s race.

Results

News and Notes- Cindric Steps Back; Museum Sells Cars

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Tim Cindric will remain as President of Team Penske’s IndyCar operations, but he is relinquishing his duties overseeing the other Penske racing efforts.

In a statement released a couple days ago, Cindric said,

“I have lived my dream job for the past 25 years as the overall leader of the Penske Racing organization. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best people in the business while achieving many milestones together. I’ve decided I need to make a change that provides me with the flexibility I need at this stage of my career. I appreciate the understanding Roger has provided throughout our conversations and I’m confident this team will continue to succeed as we have a proven leadership team in all areas.”

Managing a racing team in one category is hard work. I can’t imagine being responsible for several different motorsports entities. It’s nice to see someone realize what their needs are and make those needs a priority. I also couldn’t imagine Penske IndyCar without Cindric. I’m glad it is what he chose to stay with.

IMS Museum Auction

The IMS Museum is auctioning cars not related to the Speedway or the Indianapolis 500. Their goal is to raise $100 million for their endowment fund. The Museum will use the funds to buy more Indy related cars and restore their current collection.

The cars going to auction throught R M Sotheby Auctioin House:

  • 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Streamliner Formula 1 car
  • 1964 Le Mans-winning Ferrari 250 LM
  • 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II
  • 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64
  • 1908 Mercedes 17.3-Liter 150 HP ‘Brookland’ Semmering Rennwagen
  • 1907 Itala 120 HP Works Racing Car
  • 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix
  • 1991 Benetton B191 Formula 1
  • 1965 Spirit of America Sonic I
  • 1911 Mercedes 22/40 HP ‘Colonial’ Double Phaeton
  • 1911 Laurin & Klement Type S2 Sportswagen

The 1954 Mercedes is the star of the lot expected to go for more than $52 million.

UPDATE– The 1954 Mercedes has sold for $ 51.15 million

The cars made rare appearances on the display floor. I was fortunate enough to see them all when I took the basement tours which was offered a few years ago.

I understand the Museum’s reasons for selling these cars, but I didn’t think it hurt to have a car or two in their collection that wasn’t an Indy car.

Getting Closer

The Firestone Grand prix of St, Petersburg is just 28 days away. This Thursday, February 6, the event will hold its “First Block ceremony, where the first section of wall is put in place on the back stretch. Andretti driver Kyle Kirkwood is expected to attend along with drivers from he other series who will race that weekend.

Team Penske Suspensions- A Couple of Thoughts

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It’s a conundrum straight out of Goldilocks. Is this penalty too light? Is this one too harsh? Which solution is just right? Nobody knows

Indycar’s disqualifications of Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin from the St. Pete race were followed this morning by Team Penske suspending four members, including Newgarden’s pit strategist Tim Cindric, for the entire month of May.

The suspended crew members will not be in Indianapolis and have no input on setup or strategy They will have shop access in North Carolina.

At first, I thought that may be the penalties were a bit too light. But, on further reflection, and after reading Marshall Pruett’s excellent interview with Roger Penske, I decided that the suspensions were fair.

According to Penske, there was no willful intent to skirt the rules, but a processing error within the team. In Penske’s mind, what happened did not rise to the level needed for termination. I accept that.

Indycar and Team Penske both gathered information and made decisions. maybe the timing could have been tighter, but to quote Juan Pablo Montoya, “It is what it is.”

Newgarden and Team Penske will have to carry a figurative Scarlet C the rest of this season, but they will let their on-track performance speak for them.

I don’t expect much of a drop in performance from Newgarden or Mclaughlin or Will Power despite the absent personnel on the pit stand.

The next time I talk about this will be in my post season wrap up. The penalties have all been assessed, and they will be served. It’s time to go racing at the greatest racetrack in the world.