David Malukas

David Malukas
Malukas in 2025
Nationality	American
Born	(2001-09-27) September 27, 2001 (age 23) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
IndyCar Series career
44 races run over 3 years
Team(s)	No. 12 (Team Penske)
Best finish	11th (2025)
First race	2022 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last race	2025 Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix (Nashville Superspeedway)
Wins Podiums Poles 0 3 0
Previous series
2019, 2021 2020 2018 2017 2017 2016–17	Indy Lights FR Americas Championship Pro Mazda Championship USF2000 Championship ADAC F4 Championship Formula 4 UAE Championship

David Joseph Malukas ^[1] (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 and 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. ^[2] 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. ^[3] 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 in 2020, 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. ^[4] 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, ^[5] however the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[6]

After 2020, Malukas returned to the series in 2021 once again with HMD Motorsports. ^[7] 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. ^{[8] [9]} 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. ^[10]

IndyCar

Dale Coyne Racing (2022–2023)

Malukas driving for Dale Coyne Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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. ^[11] At Mid-Ohio, he finished a career-best ninth in his first top-ten of the season. ^[12] 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. ^[13] Malukas took his first podium at Gateway, nearly passing his idol Josef Newgarden for the win on the last lap but ultimately settling for second place. ^[14]

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 home 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 (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. ^[15] 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. ^[16]

Meyer Shank (2024)

Malukas driving for Meyer Shank Racing at Mid-Ohio in 2024

On June 7, 2024, it was announced that Malukas would be returning to IndyCar with Meyer Shank Racing, replacing Tom Blomqvist. ^[17] Starting at Laguna Seca, he competed in all remaining rounds of the 2024 season in the No. 66 car. ^[18]

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. ^[19] 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–)

On September 18, 2025, Malukas was announced to replace Will Power at Team Penske for 2026 on a multi-year agreement. ^[20]

Personal life

Malukas' parents emigrated from Telšiai in 1991, ^[21] shortly after Lithuania regained independence from the Soviet Union, which had illegally annexed the country in 1940. ^[22] Malukas was born in Chicago, Illinois and is a United States citizen. ^[23] He has said in an interview that while also eligible for Lithuanian citizenship, he has not pursued it. ^[24] In addition to the American flag, Malukas marks his cars with the Lithuanian flag in honor of his ethnic heritage. ^[23]

In 2015, Malukas was one of the featured drivers in the Kart Life TV series, which provided a behind the scenes look into the world of young kart racers. ^[25]

Karting record

Karting career summary

Season	Series	Team	Position
2009	Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Micro Max	MRP Motorsport	26th
2010	SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Cadet		8th
2011	Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Micro Max		5th
	SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Cadet		12th
2012	Florida Winter Tour — TaG Cadet		9th
	Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Mini Max		25th
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Cadet Sportsman		3rd
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Yamaha Sportsman		6th
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Yamaha Sportsman 2		2nd
	SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Cadet		4th
2013	Florida Winter Tour — TaG Cadet		7th
	Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Mini Max		4th
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Cadet Sportsman		2nd
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Yamaha Sportsman		2nd
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Komet Sportsman		2nd
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Komet Sportsman 2		3rd
	SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Junior		23rd
	Robopong 200 — Yamaha Junior Sportsman		4th
	Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals — Mini Max		1st
2014	Florida Winter Tour — TaG Junior		6th
	Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Junior		1st
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Parilla Sportsman		3rd
	WKA Manufacturer’s Cup — Yamaha Sportsman		3rd
	SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Junior	Top Kart USA	2nd
	IAME International Final — X30 Junior		54th
2015	Florida Winter Tour — Junior ROK		4th
	Florida Pro Kart Winter Series — IAME Junior	Pro Kart USA	NC
	Rotax Grand Nationals U.S.A. — Junior		4th
	SKUSA SuperNationals — TaG Junior	J3 Competition	4th
	SKUSA SuperNationals — S5 Junior Stock Moto		NC
	X30 Challenge Europa — X30 Junior		14th
	IAME International Final — X30 Junior		1st
2016	Florida Winter Tour — Rotax Senior		9th
	X30 Challenge Europa — X30 Junior		33rd
	CIK-FIA European Championship — OKJ	Vital Motorsport	38th
	CIK-FIA World Championship — OKJ	Ricciardo Kart Racing	31st
	WSK Final Cup — OKJ	Birel ART Racing	16th
2017	SKUSA SuperNationals — Rotax Senior		33rd

Racing record

Career summary

Season	Series	Team	Races	Wins	Poles	F/Laps	Podiums	Points	Position
2016–17	Formula 4 UAE Championship	Rasgaira Motorsports	11	0	0	0	1	97	5th
2017	ADAC F4 Championship	Motopark	18	0	0	0	0	20	19th
	U.S. F2000 National Championship	BN Racing	9	0	1	0	1	108	10th
2018	Pro Mazda Championship	BN Racing	16	3	3	2	6	302	4th
2019	Indy Lights	BN Racing HMD Motorsports	18	0	0	0	2	301	6th
2020	Formula Regional Americas Championship	HMD Motorsports	17	2	0	1	15	283	2nd
2021	Indy Lights	HMD Motorsports	20	7	7	4	16	524	2nd
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

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	DUB1 1	DUB1 2	DUB1 3	YMC1 1 3	YMC1 2 4	YMC1 3 Ret	YMC1 4 4	DUB2 1 7	DUB2 2 2	DUB2 3 5	YMC2 1 4	YMC2 2 4	YMC2 3 10	YMC2 4 7	YMC3 1	YMC3 2	YMC3 3	YMC3 4	5th	97

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	OSC1 1 18	OSC1 2 10	OSC1 3 20	LAU 1 10	LAU 2 10	LAU 3 9	RBR 1 10	RBR 2 Ret	RBR 3 13	OSC2 1 5	OSC2 2 Ret	OSC2 3 11	NÜR 1	NÜR 2	NÜR 3	SAC 1 16	SAC 2 14	SAC 3 10	HOC 1 17	HOC 2 Ret	HOC 3 16	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 9	IMS 18	ROA 2	ROA 14	IOW	TOR 15	TOR 14	MOH 6	MOH 6	WGL 5	10th	108

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 7	STP 2	BAR 3	BAR 5	IMS 7	IMS 10	LOR 11	ROA 1	ROA 1	TOR 9	TOR 9	MOH 2	MOH 13	GMP 8	POR 4	POR 1	4th	293

Indy Lights

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Rank	Points
2019	BN Racing HMD Motorsports 1	STP 4	STP 4	COA 10	COA 3	IMS 6	IMS 6	INDY 11	ROA 6	ROA 4	TOR 9	TOR 8	MOH 5	MOH 5	GTW 3	POR 6	POR 8	LAG 5	LAG 7			6th	301
2021	HMD Motorsports	ALA 13	ALA 1	STP 3	STP 1	IMS 2	IMS 1	DET 5	DET 3	ROA 7	ROA 1	MOH 3	MOH 3	GTW 1	GTW 1	POR 1	POR 2	LAG 4	LAG 2	MOH 2	MOH 2	2nd	524

• 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)

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Rank	Points
2020	HMD Motorsports	MOH 1 2	MOH 2 2	VIR 1 5	VIR 2 3	VIR 3 3	BAR 1 3	BAR 2 3	BAR 3 2	SEB 1 1	SEB 2 5	SEB 3 3	HMS 1 2	HMS 2 2	HMS 3 1	COTA 1 3	COTA 2 3	COTA 3 2	2nd	283

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 Racing w/ HMD Motorsports	18	Dallara DW12	Honda	STP 26	TXS 11	LBH 21	ALA 20	IMS 12	INDY 16	DET 11	ROA 16	MOH 9	TOR 12	IOW 14	IOW 8	IMS 13	NSH 20	GTW 2	POR 14	LAG 13		16th	305	[26]
2023					STP 10	TXS 4	LBH 20	ALA 19	IMS 26	INDY 29	DET 23	ROA 27	MOH 6	TOR 20	IOW 12	IOW 8	NSH 27	IMS 16	GTW 3	POR 8	LAG 20		17th	265	[27]
2024	Meyer Shank Racing	66			STP	THE	LBH	ALA	IMS	INDY	DET	ROA	LAG 16	MOH 12	IOW 27	IOW 13	TOR 6	GTW 21	POR 20	MIL 15	MIL 22	NSH 9	24th	148	[28]
2025	A. J. Foyt Racing	4		Chevrolet	STP 13	THE 18	LBH 17	ALA 16	IMS 23	INDY 2	DET 14	GTW 12*	ROA 7	MOH 17	IOW 12	IOW 4	TOR 9	LAG 13	POR 19	MIL 8	NSH 26		11th	318	[29]

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

References

1. @malukasdavid (September 3, 2023). "NEVER GIVE UP p.s. my middle name is Joseph" (Tweet). Retrieved June 26, 2025– via Twitter.
2. Rizvi, Ahmed (October 26, 2016). "Richard Cregan and Rasgaira steering Emirati involvement in new F4 UAE Championship". The National. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
3. "My Mazda Road to Indy: BN Racing". indypro2000.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
4. "Malukas Adds Three Wins in 2018 in Preparation for Next Step in Motorsports Career". indylights.com. December 21, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
5. "David Malukas Rejoins HMD Motorsports for 2020". indylights.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
6. "Indy Lights set to go on hiatus for 2020". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
7. "Malukas Set for Championship Run with HMD Motorsports". indylights.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
8. Wood, Ida (April 16, 2021). "Malukas wins close duel with Lundqvist for maiden Indy Lights pole". Formula Scout. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
9. "Malukas gets redemption and first win to end Indy Lights's return round". Formula Scout. April 18, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
10. Woollard, Craig (December 29, 2021). "How Malukas gave Kirkwood the toughest task of his Road to Indy treble". Formula Scout. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
11. Brown, Nathan (December 15, 2021). "Dale Coyne Racing signs David Malukas for No. 18, HMD Motorsports to serve as partner". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
12. "David Malukas Picks up Best Finish of the Season with Ninth Place at Mid-Ohio". July 3, 2022. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
13. "David Malukas Qualifies Season Best of Fifth at Honda Indy Toronto". July 16, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
14. "IndyCar rookie David Malukas career-best second Gateway - NBC Sports". NBC Sports. August 21, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
15. "David Malukas will join Arrow McLaren lineup in 2024". NBC Sports. September 8, 2023.
16. "Arrow McLaren releases David Malukas from team". mclaren.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
17. Komar, Maddie (June 7, 2024). "David Malukas Joins Meyer Shank Racing". Meyer Shank Racing. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
18. "David Malukas joins Meyer Shank Racing, taking over ride vacated by Tom Blomqvist for rest of season". NBC Sports. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
19. Pruett, Marshall (August 13, 2024). "Malukas signs multi-year deal with Foyt". Racer.com. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
20. https://www.teampenske.com/news/index.cfm/c/286/55382/David_Malukas_to_Join_Team_Penske_Beginning_in_2026
21. "Malukas' Parents Living American, '500' Dream as Immigrants". IndyCar.com. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
22. "From Lithuania to IndyCar via 'a chaotic disaster'". The Race. December 15, 2021.
23. "From Lithuania to IndyCar via 'a chaotic disaster'". The Race. December 15, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
24. BUS BROS Episode 11: This is Chaos, September 8, 2022, retrieved August 21, 2023
25. "Kart Life". IMDb .
26. "David Malukas – 2022 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
27. "David Malukas – 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
28. "David Malukas – 2024 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
29. "David Malukas – 2025 NTT IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2025.

External links

• David Malukas career summary at DriverDB.com