David Malukas will drive the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for Team Penske during the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season. Photo by Joe Skibinski

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Native Chicagoan David Malukas has signed a multi-year contract with Team Penske to drive the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet beginning with the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.

Malukas, 23, will be the second driver to wheel team-owner Roger S. Penske’s No. 12 entry heretofore synonymous with Australian Will Power, a two-time series champion (2014, 2022) and winner of the 2018 Indianapolis 500. Free-agent Power, 44, parted company with Penske earlier this month and subsequently signed with Andretti Global to drive the No. Gainbridge 26 Honda formerly wheeled by Colton Herta.

Malukas’ move from A.J. Foyt Racing to Team Penske was widely speculated during the 2025 “Silly Season,” despite the fact Power delivered the first win of 2025 to “The Captain” while finishing a team-best ninth in the final driver standings.

Malukas finished 11^th in the point standings for Waller, Texas-based Foyt Racing in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet. The technical alliance shared between Team Penske and Foyt Racing provided Malukas with a platform to develop his skill-set during his only year with the organization founded and owned by 90-year-old motorsports legend A.J. Foyt Jr.

Dallas resident Santino Ferrucci, 27, finished 16^th in the final 2025 standings in Foyt Racing’s signature No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet. Foyt Racing had no immediate comment on Malukas’ departure.

“Racing for Team Penske is the goal for every young race car driver, and I am honored to be one that gets to live out that dream,” Malukas said in a team release. “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.”

A first-generation Lithuanian-American, Malukas was drawn to the sport by watching his father, Henry, compete as a driver on the iconic Road America road-course in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Malukas began his karting career in 2013, scoring numerous wins and championships before moving into the INDYCAR ladder system.

Malukas was crowned INDY NXT 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 along with 16 podium finishes _ a series record _ in 20 starts. Malukas finished second in the final 2021 driver standings to Rookie of the Year Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Autosport. A 26-year-old native of Jupiter, Fla., Kirkwood won three NTT IndyCar Series races and finished fourth in the final 2025 standings in the No. 27 Siemens Honda fielded by Andretti Global.

Malukas made his NTT IndyCar Series debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2022. He has five top-five finishes and 16 top-10 results in the 61 races in which he has competed through the 2025 season-finale at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn.

Malukas’ skill at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was particularly noteworthy for Roger Penske, whose organization has scored a record 20 victories in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Malukas was named Rookie of the Year after the 2021 Indianapolis 500, posted the fastest lap around the famed 2.5-mile IMS oval during the 2022 race and finished second last May to Spaniard Alex Palou, 28, the four-time/reigning series champion from Chip Ganassi Racing.

“We are excited to add David Malukas as the next driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet,” said Penske, 88, who also owns IMS and the series. “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.”

Malukas joins a lineup led by 34-year-old Nashville native Josef Newgarden, a two-time series (2017, 2019) champion and two-time Indy 500 winner (2023, 2024) in the No. 2 Chevrolet. Penske also fields the No. 3 Chevrolet for Scott McLaughlin, a 32-year-old native of New Zealand. 

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, live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

ABEL Motorsports has signed teen-ager Max Garcia to contest the full INDY NXT by Firestone season in 2026.

Garcia, 16, joins the team after scoring consecutive titles in the USF2000 Championship in 2024 and USF Pro 2000 Championship in 2025. The latter championship earned Garcia a scholarship to advance into INDY NXT next season. A native of Coconut Grove, Fla., Garcia will drive the No. 12 ABEL Motorsports Dallara.

“I’m excited to join the team at ABEL Motorsports and build upon the momentum they’ve generated coming out of a strong 2025 season,” Garcia said. “Competition in the INDY NXT series will be fierce, and I look forward to having an opportunity to rise to the occasion and contend with some of the best.”

Max Garcia raced with the Pabst Racing’s USF2000 team and competed at the GMR Grand Prix in 2023. Photo by Karl Zemlin

Garcia has compiled an impressive junior resume throughout the INDYCAR ladder system. Following a decorated career in go-karts, Garcia joined Pabst Racing’s USF2000 team in 2023. After notching two podium results during a partial rookie season, Garcia racked up five wins and 10 podiums en route to the 2024 series title. At age 15, Garcia became the youngest ladder system scholarship winner.

Garcia remained at Pabst Racing and made the jump to USF 2000 Pro for 2025. He eclipsed his 2024 statistics by scoring nine wins _ a tie for series-best in a single season _ nine poles and 13 podiums in 18 races. In addition, Garcia completed every lap run in competition.

“We are really excited to have Max joining us for the 2025 season,” team-owner Bill Abel said. “Although he is very young, his career and accomplishments are very impressive. He is a dedicated, hard-working and quality young man. For ABEL Motorsports, to be able to secure the 2025 USF Pro 2000 Champion and the scholarship that comes with that is a big step for the team. It says a lot about where we are today and how competitive we have become in the INDY NXT championship.”

Garcia will race alongside former Pabst Racing teammate Myles Rowe, who will enter his second year under the ABEL banner. Rowe recently re-signed to continue driving the Force Indy No. 99 entry. Rowe scored 10 top-five and six podium finishes on his way to becoming the first black driver to win in INDY NXT, at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Rowe added his second victory in the season-ender at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn.

“Our performance has seen encouraging progression over the 2025 season, and the ability to continue to work on what we have developed together is something I’m very eager to pursue and grateful to have,” said Rowe, a 25-year-old native of Powder Springs, Ga.

Garcia’s first laps behind the wheel of an INDY NXT car will take place later this month at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Ill. Garcia will join Rowe at the annual Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course on Oct. 27.

ABEL Motorsports is a leader the INDY NXT by Firestone Championship, developmental series of the NTT IndyCar Series. The 2024 season saw ABEL Motorsports score three wins, three poles and 12 podiums en route to second in the entrant championship claimed by Andretti Global.

Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team is continuing renovations on a new, larger facility in Indianapolis via a massive $30-million investment.

Arrow McLaren is working alongside the Indiana Office of Commerce and Indy Economic Development on a development project modernizing the team’s workspace at 7615 Zionsville Road. Arrow McLaren’s focus on innovation and technology in its racing components and facility align with city and state priorities to empower the future economy.

“Our new facility will enhance the work experience for our team members but also showcase the impressive motorsport history and ambitions rooted within McLaren Racing,” said Kevin Thimjon, president, Arrow McLaren. “We want our team, partners and fans to be proud of our new home, and when we open our doors at the beginning of next year, I’m confident this space is one we’ll all be excited to call ours.”

The new location, which officially will be named the McLaren Racing Center, will nearly triple the square footage the team currently operates out of, improving overall workflow and day-to-day operations. The renovations have been carefully designed and planned to increase adaptability while providing state-of-the-art equipment, technology and workspaces.

“Motorsport is in the DNA of Indianapolis,” said Jim Schellinger, president/CEO, Indy Economic Development. “We are thrilled that Arrow McLaren has reinforced their choice of Indianapolis as a place to grow and thrive. Indy Economic Development is committed to partnering with this global racing leader on bolstering our innovation and motorsport economy. We are proud to support this significant investment in our community.”

The team is planning to move into the new facility in early 2026. The transformation marks another milestone in Arrow McLaren’s continued growth and investment in the NTT IndyCar Series, while also securing McLaren Racing’s rich racing history in Indianapolis. McLaren Racing was founded in 1963 by driver/engineer Bruce McLaren of New Zealand.

McLaren Racing has won the Indianapolis 500 three times. Mark Donohue won the 1972 race for Team Penske using a McLaren chassis. McLaren’s Indy 500 victories in 1974 and 1976 were with the McLaren works team, both driven by Johnny Rutherford of Fort Worth, Texas.

Arrow McLaren’s lead INDYCAR driver is Pato O’Ward, a 26-year-old native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio, Texas. O’Ward won two races in the No. 5 Chevrolet en route to a second-place finish in the  2025 championship to Spaniard Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. O’Ward’s teammates are Christian Lundgaard, a 24-year-old native of Denmark and driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet and Nolan Siegel, a 20-year-old native of Palo Alto, Calif., and driver of the No. 6 Chevrolet.

Final 2025 NTT IndyCar Series Point Standings _ 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 711; 2, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 515; 3, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 452; 4, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 433; 5, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, 431; 6, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 372; 7, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 372; 8, Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing, 364; 9, Will Power, Team Penske, 357; 10, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 356;

11, David Malukas, A.J. Foyt Racing, 318; 12, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 316; 13, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 313; 14, Rinus VeeKay, Dale Coyne Racing, 305; 15, Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing, 297; 16, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 293; 17, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 282; 18, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 268; 19, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 260; 20, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 234;

21, Callum Ilott, PREMA Racing, 218; 22, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 213; 23, Louis Foster, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 213; 24, Robert Shwartzman, PREMA Racing, 211; 25, Sting Ray Robb, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 181; 26, Devlin DeFrancesco, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 171; 27, Jacob Abel, Dale Coyne Racing, 123; 28, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 36; 29, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 20; 30, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 16;

31, Jack Harvey, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 12; 32, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports, 10; 33, Kyle Larson, Arrow McLaren with Henrick Motorsports, 6; 34, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb-Agajanian, 5.

2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES RACE WINNERS

Sunday, March 2 _ Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, March 23 _The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif.  (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, April 13 _ Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, May 4 _ Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, May 10 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, May 25 _ Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, June 1 _ Streets of Detroit (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 15 _ World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global)

Sunday, June 22 _ Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 6 _ Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Saturday, July 12 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 13 _ Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, July 20 _ Streets of Toronto, Canada (Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren)

Sunday, July 27 _ WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 10 _ Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (Will Power, Team Penske)

Sunday, Aug. 24 _ The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing)

Sunday, Aug. 31 _ Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (Josef Newgarden, Team Penske)