AVONDALE, Ariz. — On Friday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway, David Malukas achieved his first career IndyCar pole position during only his second qualifying attempt as a Team Penske driver. This milestone marks a significant moment in Malukas’s rising IndyCar career, highlighting his steady progress and potential in the sport.
Joining Malukas on the front row will be his Penske teammate Josef Newgarden, while the second row is occupied by Graham Rahal and rookie Mick Schumacher from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Scott McLaughlin, who won the pole last weekend, secured fifth place in qualifying.
Team Penske Dominates Front Row and Top Positions
Malukas expressed his satisfaction with his qualifying result, noting the aim was to rank among the top five.
“I think everybody still has an equal chance to win from there. Obviously being in the pole spot is just that little bit much better, but everything is all up to play for us,”
Malukas said following his session.
The 24-year-old from Chicago highlighted how last season often saw him losing the provisional pole position late in qualifying, particularly on ovals, where he dropped from first to second or third at the last moment. This achievement at Phoenix could mark a turning point for him moving forward.
The one-mile oval near downtown Phoenix will once again see an all-Penske front row, reinforcing the team’s strong presence. Newgarden bounced back from a poor qualifying in St. Petersburg last weekend to secure the crucial second spot on the grid.
“I felt like we did a good job. We just didn’t get it perfect, but at the end of the day, all of us being in the top-five is a great starting spot for this race and something we can work with,”
he said.
Impressive Debut for Mick Schumacher on Oval Track
One of the standout stories from qualifying was rookie Mick Schumacher, the 2020 Formula 2 champion, who made a remarkable impression on the oval circuit despite inexperience. Having crashed on the opening lap during his first IndyCar race in St. Petersburg, Schumacher showed resilience by posting a fast two-lap average speed of 173.667 mph during qualifying.
Although Schumacher brings a wealth of racing pedigree—including titles in F3 and F2, 43 Formula 1 starts, and a top-10 finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—oval racing was new territory for him. Nevertheless, he managed to place behind only the Penske cars and his teammate Graham Rahal, securing a strong second-row start.
“We knew what we had to do, and we managed to put a good couple of laps together,”
Schumacher commented.
“I’m excited to run the race. It’s going to be a whole different situation in the race with traffic and everything, so it’s going to be tough.”
Will Power Struggles Continue with Andretti Global
Will Power’s transition to Andretti Global has faced early setbacks. After crashing out early last weekend in St. Petersburg, Power suffered another crash during qualifying at Phoenix Raceway. He lost control between Turns 3 and 4, impacting the wall and damaging the car’s suspension, although he emerged uninjured aside from an expected bruised knee.
Post-crash, Power expressed frustration, stating, “That’s it. Rough start, man,” highlighting the challenges he is currently encountering in adjusting to his new team.
His difficulties so far this season have drawn attention, with observer Jeff Gluck noting,
“Will Power crashed in qualifying at Phoenix after crashing twice at St. Pete. This is his second race for Andretti after leaving Penske, and you can see the moment it hits him here.”
Gluck, Journalist
Looking Ahead to the Good Ranchers 250
The 2026 IndyCar season will continue with the Good Ranchers 250 race at Phoenix Raceway, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. With a Penske front row and competitive qualifiers from Rahal Letterman Lanigan, the stage is set for an intense contest on the one-mile oval.
David Malukas IndyCar pole positions signal the emergence of new talent prepared to challenge established veterans. The performance of rookies like Mick Schumacher suggests fresh dynamics will shape the races ahead, while struggles for drivers like Will Power indicate that team changes and adjustments will remain critical factors influencing outcomes this season.
Another frustrating start to the weekend for Will Power with a crash in Phoenix qualifying. pic.twitter.com/7ssavG8tTr
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) March 6, 2026
Will Power crashed in qualifying at Phoenix after crashing twice at St. Pete. This is his second race for Andretti after leaving Penske, and you can see the moment it hits him here. pic.twitter.com/8ynpq6W45g
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 6, 2026
