IndyCar: Have Team Penske found Will Power’s replacement?

IndyCar: Have Team Penske found Will Power's replacement?

As a long-time fan of IndyCar racing, I must say that watching Will Power’s comeback in the 2024 season has been nothing short of thrilling! His resilience and determination are truly inspiring, and it seems that age is just a number for this two-time champion.

2018 Indy 500 winner and two-time IndyCar champion Will Power has demonstrated that his winless 2023 season, which marked his poorest championship performance since becoming a full-time member of Team Penske in 2010, was merely an anomaly. It underscores that he is still capable of delivering the top-tier performances we’ve come to expect from him over the past fifteen years.

In the initial 12 races of the 2024 season, he has secured two victories, which matches the lead for the series. However, he is second in the overall championship standings behind Alex Palou, a two-time series champion from Chip Ganassi Racing, with just five remaining races to go.

As I’m nearing the big 4-3, the topic of winding down my gaming career has popped up a few times. Last year, I found myself pondering about it more than usual, particularly when facing the health hurdles my partner was going through.

As I stand here, I’m signed up with Team Penske until at least the year 2025, and it seems quite plausible we might extend that contract if I choose to keep racing well into my forties. Just like the 44-year-old Scott Dixon, I’m showing that numbers on a birth certificate don’t define one’s prowess. Recently, I’ve climbed up to fourth place on the all-time wins list, surpassing Michael Andretti.

On the other hand, should he decide it’s time to stop, Team Penske might already have their eyes on a viable replacement behind the wheel of the No. 12 Chevrolet.

Rumor has it that David Malukas might be extending his contract with Meyer Shank Racing, or he could be joining Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing following Christian Lundgaard’s move to Arrow McLaren.

In the second half of the 2024 season, Malukas switched teams from Dale Coyne Racing, previously backed by his father’s HMD Motorsports, to Meyer Shank Racing. This move was made to replace Tom Blomqvist, who was underperforming, following Malukas’ recovery from a preseason wrist injury that had resulted in an early and possibly imprudent dismissal by Arrow McLaren.

In six races, his qualifying positions have never been worse than 14th, averaging a starting position of approximately 7.7, and he has managed to finish as high as 6th while driving the No. 66 Honda.

He is set to start tonight’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway on the front row.

Originating from Chicago, Illinois, the 22-year-old racer has remarkably moved the No. 66 team up to the 22nd spot in the qualifying rankings. This new position sets them on track to join the elite Leaders’ Circle and secure a $1 million prize from IndyCar. Just a few months ago, after Blomqvist’s crash during the opening lap of the Indy 500 in late May, the team’s chances for such an impressive outcome seemed very unlikely.

Instead, Malukas chose to align with A.J. Foyt Enterprises for the 2025 season rather than remaining stationary or merging with a bigger Honda group. As of now, it’s undecided if he will take over Santino Ferrucci in the No. 14 Chevrolet or Sting Ray Robb in the No. 41 Chevrolet.

1. This year, A.J. Foyt Enterprises is on track for one of its most successful seasons in over two decades following a technical partnership established with Team Penske during the off-season. When Malukas’ new agreement was revealed, he acknowledged this collaboration.

Might the understanding that the No. 12 Chevrolet might require a different driver in a few years be a factor in Malukas deciding to take an action that positions him as closely as possible to Team Penske?

Since his debut with IndyCar two seasons back, Malukas has consistently stood out for his exceptional performance. Contrary to most predictions, after his return following his injury, he not only managed to avoid struggling but thrived instead. Remarkably, this remarkable turnaround occurred in a vehicle that had been largely unsuccessful over the past year and a half.

Achieving similar levels of success with A.J. Foyt’s team in 2025 or later would undoubtedly draw interest from one of IndyCar’s leading teams. His past achievements with Dale Coyne Racing even led to a contract with Arrow McLaren, though this came about after Palou unexpectedly broke his deal and left the seat without a driver.

Team Penske is careful about making driver choices, preferring not to hastily sign inexperienced rookies. In fact, they’ve made very few permanent driver additions over the past 10 years or so, but each one has proven to be highly beneficial for them.

Juan Pablo Montoya was a CART champion and victor of the Indy 500 who excelled in various motor racing disciplines before he signed up in 2014. Simon Pagenaud had already racked up three top-five championship seasons with Sam Schmidt’s team prior to his joining in 2015. Both drivers went on to claim multiple victories and an Indy 500 following their signings, with Pagenaud also earning a title.

Despite not achieving any top 10 finishes during his rookie year in 2012, Josef Newgarden had already proven himself to be a highly sought-after driver by the time he joined Team Penske in 2017, having gained significant experience over six years.

2021 saw the team bring on board Scott McLaughlin, who at that time had no prior experience with IndyCar. However, this decision was made after several years of impressive performance with Roger Penske’s team in Australian Supercars. Furthermore, his success during the 2020 IndyCar iRacing Challenge also played a significant role in the recruitment process.

Since then, Newgarden has claimed victory in two championship titles and two Indianapolis 500 races. On the other hand, McLaughlin has proven himself to be a formidable racer on various tracks, most recently securing the pole position for the Indy 500 with an unprecedented record-breaking speed.

Currently, Malukas, previously associated with Team Penske, finds himself in a situation where he can make an impact on the main Team Penske, working through one of their affiliated IndyCar teams. This is his fourth year (and likely his fifth, given his multi-year contract) in IndyCar racing.

Additionally, it’s noteworthy to highlight that, during their tenure with Dale Coyne Racing as rookies, Malukas and Palou achieved one podium placement each, two more top-10 finishes, an average position of 14th, and ended the season ranked 16th in the championship.

As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to declare that I am witnessing the glory of Palou, who has now clinched two championship titles! He stands as the present reigning champion and is leading the series with an impressive 11 victories under his belt at Chip Ganassi Racing.

If Malukas continues his current performance, he could become the ideal driver for Team Penske when it’s time to replace Power. It’s highly unlikely that he hasn’t caught their attention already, and it seems unlikely that anyone else is being seriously considered by them at this point.

2024-08-17 17:32

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