For David Malukas, the breakthrough moment had been building for a long time. On Friday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway, the wait finally ended.
The 24-year-old delivered a sensational two-lap qualifying run to secure his first career pole position in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Malukas set a two-lap average of 175.3 mph to claim the top starting spot for the Good Ranchers 250, marking the first NTT P1 Award of his IndyCar career.
It was a milestone moment not just for Malukas personally, but also for his new chapter with Team Penske. After several seasons of near-misses and close calls in qualifying, the young American finally converted potential into the top spot on the grid.
“Yeah, it feels good,” Malukas said after climbing from the car. “We had so many close moments… that was the story of last season with qualifying, especially on these ovals. We would be sitting provisionally in the pole position and then right at the end we would get dropped down to second or third.”
This time, there would be no last-minute disappointment.
Malukas knew immediately that his run had been strong enough to hold: “I already knew that lap was pretty sporty,” he said. “It seemed that the track actually went in our favor and started to get worse, so my confidence was pretty high.”
The result completed a dominant qualifying performance for Team Penske, which locked out the front row with Josef Newgarden starting second. For Malukas, however, the moment carried deeper significance. The pole came in just his 63rd IndyCar start and marked the first time he had been able to fully capitalize on the speed he had shown throughout his career.
A Dream Opportunity with Penske
The Phoenix result also reinforced why Team Penske placed its faith in Malukas for the 2026 season.
Joining one of the most successful teams in motorsport inevitably brings pressure. But for Malukas, it is the type of pressure he has always wanted.
“No matter what team I’ve been with throughout these years in INDYCAR, I’ve always had a form of pressure,” he explained. “For Team Penske it’s a special pressure. It’s one that I’m very excited to deal with.”
Driving the iconic Verizon No. 12 car adds another layer of responsibility. The entry carries a deep history in IndyCar and was previously piloted by series legend Will Power, a driver Malukas grew up watching.
“Team Penske has always been my dream,” Malukas admitted. “Going into a car with that legacy, with the history of the No. 12 car and with someone like Will Power before me, there’s definitely pressure there.”
But far from being intimidated, Malukas appears energized by the challenge.
“I feel like it’s something I’m going to thrive in,” he said.
One of the most striking elements of Malukas’ early Penske performances has been his visible confidence in the car.
Even before the engine fires, he already feels the difference of operating within the organization’s highly refined environment.
“I’m just on a high,” Malukas said with a smile. “Even before the engine starts, I get seated in the car and I start touching the wheel and I’m like, ‘I’m so happy.’ That confidence translates into the driving.”
That sense of belonging was evident throughout qualifying. Malukas attacked the Phoenix oval with authority, managing the delicate balance between speed and stability across the two-lap run that determines the starting order.
Short ovals demand precision. With minimal margin for error and the constant threat of rear instability, the fastest drivers are those who can operate comfortably on the edge of control.
Malukas delivered exactly that.
Still Work to Do as He aims to End the “Little Dave” Era
While pole position represents a major milestone, Malukas was quick to emphasize that qualifying success does not guarantee race results.
“Everything is all up to play for us,” he said. “Being on pole is that little bit better, but the race is going to be a completely different scenario.”
The final practice session was therefore focused on race preparation rather than celebration. Malukas and the Penske team concentrated on heavy fuel runs and traffic conditions, both crucial elements for a 250-lap oval race.
“You start on pole, but you could lose it in the first corner,” Malukas noted. “At some point you’re always going to be in traffic, so we want to make sure the car is quick in those conditions.”
Despite his growing reputation in IndyCar, Malukas still carries a nickname he would rather leave behind.
Within the paddock, he has often been referred to as “Little Dave,” a playful label he once embraced earlier in his career.
Now, he has a clear plan to change that.
“A win would be fantastic,” Malukas said. “That’s my number one motivational factor, so we can finally drop the ‘Little Dave’ name.”
The transformation from promising young driver to established IndyCar race winner is the next step in his career. And with the speed he has already shown at Team Penske, that breakthrough may not be far away.
For now, however, the first pole position stands as a powerful statement. David Malukas has arrived at Team Penske as a serious contender in the championship.
written by Philipp Kraus // Media Credit: Penske Entertainment
