David Malukas Bio
David Joseph Malukas is an American racing driver born on September 27, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois. He competes in the IndyCar Series, where he drives the No. 12 Chevrolet for Team Penske. Before joining Penske, he raced in IndyCar with Dale Coyne Racing, Meyer Shank Racing, and A.J. Foyt Racing, building a reputation as a rising American open-wheel talent.
Born to Lithuanian parents who emigrated from Telšiai in 1991, Malukas grew up in the Chicago area and developed an early passion for motorsport. He carries the Lithuanian flag on his cars alongside the American flag, honoring his family’s heritage while representing the United States on track.
Early Life and Background
David Joseph Malukas was born on September 27, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents left Lithuania in 1991, shortly after the country regained its independence from the Soviet Union, and settled in the Chicago area where David was raised. Although he is a United States citizen and is also eligible for Lithuanian citizenship, he has not pursued the latter.
Malukas developed an early interest in racing and began competing in karting as a young driver. In 2015, he was featured in the Kart Life TV series, which followed young kart racers and gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at the world of junior motorsport. That exposure helped him build a foundation for his future move into single-seater racing.
Path to IndyCar
Malukas began his single-seater career in 2016 and the early part of 2017, racing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with Rasgaira Motorsports. Although he did not contest the full season, he still finished sixth in the championship. He then moved to ADAC Formula 4 with Motopark in 2017, where he ended the year nineteenth in the standings.
In 2017, Malukas also entered the U.S. F2000 National Championship with BN Racing, taking pole position at Road America and finishing second in the opening race. In 2018, he moved up to the Pro Mazda Championship with BN Racing and produced an impressive campaign that included three wins and six podiums, good for fourth in the championship.
Malukas advanced to Indy Lights in 2019 with BN Racing. Later that year, his father Henry acquired the team’s Indy Lights operation and rebranded it as HMD Motorsports. After the 2020 Indy Lights season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malukas returned in 2021 with HMD Motorsports and delivered his strongest season to date, finishing second in the championship behind Kyle Kirkwood with seven wins, sixteen podiums, and six poles.
David Malukas Career
Dale Coyne Racing Era (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. He quickly showed promise, recording a career-best ninth place at Mid-Ohio and qualifying a career-best fifth in Toronto. His standout moment came at Gateway, where he earned his first IndyCar podium by finishing second after nearly passing his idol Josef Newgarden for the win on the final lap.
In 2023, Malukas opened his second campaign at Dale Coyne with a top-ten finish in St. Petersburg and a fourth-place result at Texas Motor Speedway. The season was a mix of strong runs and mechanical setbacks, including a last-place finish at Nashville due to a mechanical failure. He closed the year with a third-place finish at Gateway and an eighth-place run at Portland, continuing to build experience on a variety of track types.
Arrow McLaren and Meyer Shank Racing (2024)
On September 8, 2023, Arrow McLaren announced Malukas had been signed to a multi-year contract to drive the No. 6 entry starting in 2024. In February 2024, however, he tore ligaments and dislocated his left wrist in a mountain biking accident and underwent hand surgery on February 13. After missing four races with an unclear recovery timeline, he was released by the team on April 29, 2024.
On June 7, 2024, it was announced that Malukas would return to IndyCar with Meyer Shank Racing, replacing Tom Blomqvist. Starting at Laguna Seca, he competed in all remaining rounds of the 2024 season in the No. 66 car.
A. J. Foyt Racing Era (2025)
On August 13, 2024, it was announced that Malukas had signed a multi-year deal with A.J. Foyt Racing for the 2025 season and beyond. The highlight of his 2025 campaign came at the Indianapolis 500, where he finished second after starting seventh. The following week, he qualified second for the Detroit Grand Prix and ran inside the top five before contact with Álex Palou resulted in a penalty that dropped him down the finishing order.
Team Penske Era (2026–Present)
On September 18, 2025, Team Penske announced that Malukas would replace Will Power on a multi-year agreement beginning in 2026. He drives the No. 12 Chevrolet for the organization, marking a major step in his IndyCar career. The move places him at one of the most successful teams in American open-wheel racing history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Malukas has built a reputation as a strong road-course racer, with his best finishes often coming on natural terrain circuits like Gateway, Mid-Ohio, and Toronto. His qualifying pace has improved steadily since entering IndyCar, and he has shown the ability to fight for podiums in wheel-to-wheel battles against more experienced rivals. His partnership with established teams like Dale Coyne Racing, A.J. Foyt Racing, and Team Penske reflects the confidence other organizations have placed in his race craft.
Notable Races and Milestones
His first IndyCar podium at Gateway in 2022 remains one of the defining moments of his career, finishing just short of his idol Josef Newgarden. His runner-up result at the 2025 Indianapolis 500 confirmed his arrival among the top talents in the series. Earlier, his dominant 2021 Indy Lights campaign, with seven wins and a runner-up championship finish, marked him as one of the brightest American open-wheel prospects of his generation.
David Malukas Career Wins
Across his junior and senior career, Malukas has accumulated verified wins in Indy Lights, the Formula Regional Americas Championship, the Pro Mazda Championship, and the U.S. F2000 National Championship. He has yet to record a win in the IndyCar Series as of the start of his Team Penske era, with his best IndyCar result being second place at the 2025 Indianapolis 500.
Indy Lights Highlights
Malukas raced in Indy Lights with HMD Motorsports in 2019 and 2021, scoring two podiums in his rookie season before enjoying a breakout 2021 campaign. That year he claimed his maiden pole at Barber Motorsports Park and went on to record seven wins, sixteen podiums, and six poles, finishing second in the championship behind Kyle Kirkwood.
Other Wins and Performances
In the Formula Regional Americas Championship, Malukas finished second in the standings in 2020 with two wins and fifteen podiums. In the Pro Mazda Championship in 2018, he recorded three wins and six podiums to finish fourth overall. He also scored an early podium in the U.S. F2000 National Championship with BN Racing at Road America in 2017.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indy Lights | 7 | — | 6 |
| Formula Regional Americas Championship | 2 | — | — |
| Pro Mazda Championship | 3 | — | — |
David Malukas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Malukas’ parents emigrated from Telšiai, Lithuania, in 1991, shortly after the country regained independence from the Soviet Union. They settled in the Chicago area, where David was born and raised. His father, Henry Malukas, is a significant figure in his son’s racing career, having acquired the BN Racing Indy Lights operation and rebranded it as HMD Motorsports in 2019.
Personal Life
David Malukas is a United States citizen who also qualifies for Lithuanian citizenship, though he has not pursued it. He honors his Lithuanian heritage by displaying the Lithuanian flag on his race cars alongside the American flag. He is widely recognized as one of the promising young American drivers in the IndyCar Series.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 IndyCar Series marked Malukas’ first season with A.J. Foyt Racing after his mid-2024 release from Arrow McLaren. He quickly adjusted to his new team and produced his best IndyCar result to date with a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, leading several laps and contending for the win in the closing stages.
At the Detroit Grand Prix the following week, he qualified second and ran inside the top five before a penalty resulting from contact with Álex Palou dropped him down the finishing order. Despite that setback, his pace confirmed his growing comfort with the team and his ability to compete on ovals and street circuits alike.
Following his strong 2025 campaign, Malukas was announced on September 18, 2025, as the driver of the No. 12 Chevrolet for Team Penske beginning in 2026 on a multi-year agreement, replacing Will Power. The move to one of IndyCar’s most decorated teams sets the stage for what could be the most competitive phase of his career.