David Malukas encountered a challenging setback shortly after signing with Arrow McLaren for the 2024 IndyCar season when a mountain biking accident sidelined him with a wrist injury. Following his release by the papaya team, Malukas revealed the encouraging support he received from Roger Penske during this difficult period.
After a stint with Dale Coyne Racing, Malukas secured a position with Arrow McLaren, a significant step up in his career ahead of the 2024 campaign. However, just weeks before the season opener, a dislocated left wrist caused by a mountain biking accident prevented him from racing. As the first four events passed without any confirmed return, Arrow McLaren decided to release Malukas from their lineup.
Shortly after leaving Arrow McLaren, Malukas took over from Tom Blomqvist at Meyer Shank Racing for the 2024 Laguna Seca race. Recently, after signing with Team Penske to replace Will Power, Malukas shared insights from an episode of the Pit Pass Indy podcast about the personal encouragement he received from Penske following these challenges.
“Roger Penske, he called me actually after my injury and my outing with everything at McLaren. And it was a call of just saying, ‘Keep your head up. You’re a good driver. These things happen, and you’ve got to keep working hard.’ And it was nice to hear that from Roger Penske and to get a call from him. It was nice, and we kept in touch.” (31:15 onwards)
“And obviously, the way things played out through Shank and Foyt, we had a good few races here at Foyt, and he reached back out to me, and obviously, this whole deal happened,” added David Malukas
Malukas, then 24 years old, had long been linked to Team Penske, especially as Will Power’s contract was set to end after the 2025 season. The alliance between Team Penske and AJ Foyt Racing further facilitated his pathway to Penske’s stable, with Malukas set to pilot the #12 Horizon Team Penske Chevrolet beginning at the St. Pete race in 2025.
Insight into Malukas’s Dynamic with New Teammates
For the 2026 season, David Malukas will join forces with Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin as part of Team Penske’s driver lineup. At a recent preseason press event, Malukas was asked about his interactions and relationship with his new teammates during the offseason, to which he responded positively about their collaboration.
“It’s been really good, especially with Scott also being based in Charlotte. We’ve been able to actually meet in person quite a bit, and he’s actually been super open with everything when it comes to all his data and ideas. We all talk with each other and come up with all these plans. It’s been really good.”
“Like I said, the connection with the team from drivers, engineers, mechanics, all has been a fantastic connection. I just can’t wait to get started and go out there and see what we can do,” added David Malukas
The upcoming IndyCar preseason test at Phoenix Raceway in February will mark Malukas’s next important milestone, followed by the first race of the 2025 season at St. Pete on March 1. These events will offer a clearer view of how Malukas, alongside his seasoned teammates, will perform under Team Penske’s banner.
David Malukas’s journey from recovery through setbacks to joining one of IndyCar’s premier teams reflects resilience and determination. The encouragement from Roger Penske during difficult times helped sustain his resolve, setting the stage for Malukas to make a strong impact with Team Penske and influence the competitive dynamics of the upcoming IndyCar seasons.
