After just two races with Team Penske under his belt, David Malukas is already proving he belongs at the top-tier squad.
In his first race with the team in St. Petersburg, the 24-year old qualified fifth and overcame a flat tire to finish 13th.
Malukas’ run at Phoenix was even better, as he earned his first IndyCar pole and went on to secure a podium finish in the #12 Chevy.
His new team-mates Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin have taken notice, with the former describing what makes him a unique but effective racer.
“I think David is doing excellent,” said Newgarden with no hesitation. “I’m not going to be surprised to see him win sooner than later. I just won’t. I think he’s done a good job.
“He’s a little different. I don’t mean that good or bad. He’s younger. He’s like from a different generation. He acts differently to me and Scott [McLaughlin].
“He’s very complementary in some ways. It’s always nice to see something new. He’s got that youthfulness to him. You can tell he’s eager to perform.
“I think he does a good job. He performed excellently in St. Pete. He had a little bit of a mishap with the braking, but he was fast all weekend. His feedback is good. It’s concise and consistent. Same thing here.
“When he says something, you can kind of trust what he’s saying. That helps propel the team forward. That’s all we really need for him. I think he’s a great addition.
“I got nothing but good things to say about him. I think he’s going to win a race at some point here soon.”
Malukas sits sixth in the points standings, tied for the best position he’s ever been in and with plenty of momentum on his side.
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