David Malukas joins Team Penske for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NICS) season, becoming just the second driver in team history to sit behind the wheel of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. At 24-years-old, the first-generation Lithuanian American will be the youngest, full-time NICS driver for the team. He joins the team after spending the 2025 season with AJ Foyt Racing where he had two top five finishes, five top 10 finishes and 97 laps led on the way to an 11 th -place finish in the final series standings.

Despite his youth, Malukas is keenly aware of who he is following into the role of driver of one of the most-iconic cars in the series. Will Power won two championships and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. He sits fourth on the all-time series wins list and first in career NICS pole positions.

The Chicago native sees it as a prime opportunity in one of the best rides in the sport, one he has been working towards for over a decade.

His racing career began in 2013 at the karting level where he captured numerous championships through the 2016 season. It was then that he entered the bottom rung of the INDYCAR SERIES ladder system and began working his way towards his dream of an NICS opportunity. Three victories, three pole positions and seven podiums in USF 2000 and USF Pro 2000 from 2017-2018 led Malukas to INDY NXT by Firestone, one step below the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Malukas entered the 2019 INDY NXT by Firestone season with his family-owned team, HMD Motorsports. Both driver and team were new to the series, yet the determined effort allowed Malukas to challenge for podiums during the growing year. Malukas’ sophomore season in INDY NXT by Firestone was postponed from 2020 to 2021 by the Covid19 pandemic, but the wait proved to be worth it.

While his 2021 INDY NXT by Firestone season did not end with a championship, the results for Malukas were eye-popping. After a season-opening win on the streets of St. Petersburg, Malukas scorched the series for a total of seven wins, six pole positions and a series-record 16 podium finishes. His championship duel with Kyle Kirkwood featured a back-and-forth tussle for the championship, one in which Malukas would finish second after a historic season.

In 2022, Malukas realized his dream as he joined Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports in the INDYCAR SERIES. His rookie season was highlighted by a second- place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway to go along with two additional top 10 finishes. The 2023 NICS season started solidly with a 10 th -place finish at St. Petersburg followed by a fourth-place run at Texas Motor Speedway.

While the consistency was not what Malukas and the team envisioned, the young driver was able to capture three additional top 10 finishes before the end of the 2023 season. The speed shown that year was enough to earn Malukas one of the seats with the Arrow McLaren INDYCAR Team. Unfortunately, a serious wrist injury suffered in a mountain biking incident in the offseason eventually led to his dismissal from Arrow McLaren before ever turning a competitive lap. He competed in 10 races during the 2024 season with Meyer Shank Racing after his wrist healed.

“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 is one of the best teams in the paddock.”

Malukas resides in the Lake Norman, NC area where he enjoys filming social media content, gaming and cooking. He also has a robust fitness routine that includes jiu-jitsu and plenty of running.