David Malukas

David Joseph Malukas (born September 27, 2001) is an American racing driver who competes in the IndyCar Series driving the No. 12 Chevrolet for Team Penske. He previously drove for A.J. Foyt Racing in 2025, Meyer Shank Racing in 2024, and Dale Coyne Racing in 2022 and 2023.

Early career

Lower formula In 2016 and the early part of 2017, Malukas competed in the Formula 4 UAE Championship for Rasgaira Motorsports. He did not contest the full season but still finished sixth in the championship.

Malukas would move to ADAC Formula 4 to compete for Motopark in 2017. There he would end up finishing nineteenth in the championship.

U.S. F2000 National Championship Along with his efforts in ADAC Formula 4, Malukas would compete in the U.S. F2000 National Championship in 2017 for BN Racing. At the first race at Road America, he took pole position and finished on the podium in second.

Pro Mazda Championship After competing part-time in the U.S. F2000 National Championship the previous year, Malukas would move up to the Pro Mazda Championship in 2018 again driving for BN Racing. He would have an impressive season with three wins and six podiums to finish fourth in the championship.

Formula Regional Americas Championship Due to the 2020 Indy Lights season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Malukas would compete in the Formula Regional Americas Championship for HMD Motorsports. He had a successful season claiming two wins and fifteen podiums to finish second in the championship.

Indy Lights In 2019, Malukas would once again move up a rung in the Road to Indy ladder to the Indy Lights series driving for BN Racing. In August of that year, Malukas' father Henry acquired BN Racing's Indy Lights operation and established HMD Motorsports. Malukas would only have two podiums at Circuit of the Americas and Gateway Motorsports Park respectively.

Malukas was set to compete in the series in 2020, however the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After 2020, Malukas returned to the series in 2021 once again with HMD Motorsports. He would claim his maiden pole at the second race at Barber Motorsports Park and would go on to get his first win in the series. Malukas would challenge rookie Kyle Kirkwood for the title all season but ultimately finished second in the standings behind Kirkwood. He would have his most impressive season in any category thus far with six poles, sixteen podiums and seven wins.

IndyCar

Dale Coyne Racing (2022–2023)

On December 15, 2021, it was announced that Malukas would drive the No. 18 entry full-time for Dale Coyne Racing in partnership with HMD Motorsports during the 2022 IndyCar Series season. At Mid-Ohio, he finished a career-best ninth in his first top-ten of the season. At the next race in Toronto, Malukas made it into the Firestone Fast 6 for a second time that season and qualified a career-best fifth. Malukas took his first podium at Gateway, nearly passing leader Josef Newgarden on the last lap and finishing second.

In 2023, Malukas' second campaign with Dale Coyne started off with a top-ten finish in the chaotic season opener in St. Petersburg, then saw him qualify ninth in the 2023 PPG 375 at Texas Motor Speedway, and finish fourth in a multi-car battle for the win. His promising start went a bit awry, when he managed only two top-twenty results during the next six races in a row Following a last-place finish in the Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America, David shook off the bad luck by qualifying twelfth and recording a sixth place finish. The next stop at Toronto would prove to be a let down, being credited with a twentieth place after retiring due to contact. Malukas went on to the double-header at Iowa and recorded solid twelfth and eighth place finishes. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville he qualified sixth, but suffered a mechanical failure, and was credited with a last-place finish. After a disappointing qualifying session, at the Gallagher Grand Prix, in Indianapolis, he moved up seven positions to finish sixteenth. Returning to Gateway, the site of his breakout performance during the previous season, he came in third. At Portland, David qualified 24th, then worked his way forward to finish in eighth place. During the season finale in Laguna Seca, he survived a shunt, which left him stranded in a gravel trap, then returned to finish twentieth.

Arrow McLaren and other activities (2024) On September 8, 2023, Arrow McLaren announced Malukas had been signed to a multi-year contract as driver of the No. 6 entry, beginning in 2024. However, on the second weekend of February, Malukas tore ligaments and dislocated his left wrist in a mountain biking accident, and underwent hand surgery Tuesday, February 13. After missing four races, and with an unclear recovery timeline, he was released by the team on April 29, 2024.

During his recovery from injury and the period without a race seat, Malukas took part in promotional and social media activities for the IndyCar Series. He covered various events, including the Indianapolis 500, which he stated helped him build more connections within the paddock.

Meyer Shank (2024)

On June 7, 2024, it was announced that Malukas would be returning to IndyCar with Meyer Shank Racing, replacing Tom Blomqvist. He debuted with the team at Laguna Seca, during which he spun in early practice due to limited wrist mobility while adapting to a brace.

A. J. Foyt Racing (2025) On August 13, 2024, it was announced that Malukas signed a multi-year deal with A. J. Foyt Racing for the 2025 season and beyond. He finished second after starting seventh at the Indianapolis 500. The following week, he qualified second for the Detroit Grand Prix, and ran amongst the top-five before contact with Álex Palou resulted in a penalty, dropping him down the finishing order.

Team Penske (2026–) Malukas driving for Team Penske at the 2026 Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway. On September 18, 2025, Malukas was announced to replace Will Power at Team Penske for 2026 on a multi-year agreement. He started the 2026 season with a 13th place finish at the St. Petersburg. He scored his first career pole position and podium of the season at Phoenix. During the month of May, he finished second at the Sonsio Grand Prix. He then followed that up by finishing second at the Indianapolis 500 in the race's closest ever finish, losing out to Felix Rosenqvist by 0.0233 seconds. On July 13, he went to the White House to help promote the Freedom 250 Grand Prix along with Álex Palou and Rosenqvist. President Donald Trump (center) with three drivers involved in the race; from left to right: Malukas, Álex Palou and Felix Rosenqvist.

Personal life Malukas' parents emigrated from Telšiai, Lithuania, in 1991. His parents later built a trucking company that expanded to a fleet of approximately 500–600 trucks. He has said in an interview that while also eligible for Lithuanian citizenship, he has not pursued it. In addition to the American flag, Malukas marks his cars with the Lithuanian flag in honor of his ethnic heritage.

In 2024, he moved to Indianapolis, but relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, in the winter break before the start of the 2026 season.

Karting record

Karting career summary

Racing record

Career summary Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 2016–17 Formula 4 UAE ChampionshipRasgaira Motorsports 11 0 0 0 1 97 5th2017 ADAC F4 Championship Motopark 18 0 0 0 0 20 19th U.S. F2000 National Championship BN Racing 9 0 1 0 1 10810th 2018 Pro Mazda Championship BN Racing 16 3 3 2 6 302 4th 2019 Indy Lights BN RacingHMD Motorsports 18 0 0 0 2 301 6th 2020 Formula Regional Americas Championship HMD Motorsports 17 2 0 1 15 2832nd 2021 Indy Lights HMD Motorsports 20 7 7 4 16 5242nd 2022 IndyCar Series Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports 17 0 0 2 1 305 16th 2023 IndyCar Series Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports 17 0 0 1 1 265 17th 2024 IndyCar Series Meyer Shank Racing 10 0 0 1 0 148 24th 2025 IndyCar Series A.J. Foyt Enterprises 17 0 0 2 1 318 11th 2026IndyCar SeriesTeam Penske 17 0 1 0 6 405* * Season still in progress

Complete Formula 4 UAE Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos Points 2016-17 Rasgaira Motorsports DUB11 DUB12 DUB13 YMC11 YMC12 YMC13 YMC14 DUB21 DUB22 DUB23 YMC21 YMC22 YMC23 YMC24 YMC31 YMC32 YMC33 YMC34 5th

Complete ADAC Formula 4 Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Pos Points 2017 Motopark OSC11 OSC12 OSC13 LAU1 LAU2 LAU3 RBR1 RBR2 RBR3 OSC21 OSC22 OSC23 NÜR1 NÜR2 NÜR3 SAC1 SAC2 SAC3 HOC1 HOC2 HOC3 19th 20

American open–wheel racing results

U.S. F2000 National Championship Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points 2017 BN Racing STP STP BAR BAR IMS IMSROA ROA IOW TOR TOR MOH MOH WGL10th108

Pro Mazda Championship Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rank Points 2018 BN Racing STP STP BARBARIMS IMS LORROAROA TOR TOR MOHMOH GMP POR POR4th293

Indy Lights 1 HMD Motorsports acquired BN Racing's Indy Lights operation in August 2019

Formula Regional Americas Championship (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

IndyCar Series (key) Year Team No. Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Rank Points Ref 2022 Dale Coyne Racingw/ HMD Motorsports 18 Dallara DW12 Honda STP TXS LBH ALA IMS INDY DET ROA MOH TOR IOW IOW IMS NSH GTW POR LAG 16th 305 2023 STP TXS LBH ALA IMS INDY DET ROA MOH TOR IOW IOW NSH IMS GTW POR LAG 17th 265 2024 Meyer Shank Racing 66 STP THE LBH ALA IMS INDY DET ROA LAG MOH IOW IOW TOR GTW POR MIL MIL NSH 24th 148 2025 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 4 Chevrolet STP THE LBH ALA IMS INDY DET GTW ROA MOH IOW IOW TOR LAG POR MIL NSH 11th 318 2026 Team Penske 12 STP PHX ARL ALA LBH IMS INDY DET GTW ROA MOH NSH POR MRK WSH MIL MIL LAG 5th* 484*

Indianapolis 500 Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 2022 Dallara Honda 13 16 Dale Coyne Racing w/ HMD Motorsports 2023 23 29 2025 Chevrolet 7 2 A. J. Foyt Enterprises 2026 3 2 Team Penske