“P2 champions. That is been the story of this season,” stated with a smirk after ending second in Grand Prix at Street America, his third second-place end in 5 races.
Malukas’ first yr with Group Penske has largely been successful. , has 4 podium finishes in 10 races and leads his Group Penske teammates — Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden — by greater than 60 factors within the standings (a win is price 50 factors).
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The one factor the Chicago native hasn’t finished is attain the checkered flag first, though he’s come agonizingly shut.
Probably the most notable of these second-place finishes got here within the , when Malukas’ No. 12 Chevrolet was crushed to the bricks by Felix Rosenqvist’s No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda by simply 0.0233 seconds, the closest end the Indy 500 has ever seen in its 110 renditions. It was the second yr in a row Malukas completed second within the Indy 500 (though he completed third on observe in 2025 earlier than Marcus Ericsson was disqualified).
“I am unable to consider it,” Malukas stated earlier than trying over his proper shoulder at a replay of the Indy 500 end within the IMS media heart. “This complete season, even earlier than, simply maintain getting a whole lot of seconds however we simply cannot get … I do not know the way a lot nearer you may get to getting it, so yeah. Now we’re even P2 within the championship. It is nice, so many seconds.”
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Indianapolis 500 2026: Race motion from begin to end at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Drivers take the inexperienced flag Sunday, Might 24, 2026, through the a hundred and tenth working of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Tyler Ward/For IndyStar)
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Indianapolis 500 2026: Race motion from begin to end at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Drivers take the inexperienced flag Sunday, Might 24, 2026, through the a hundred and tenth working of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Tyler Ward/For IndyStar)
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Indianapolis 500 2026: Race motion from begin to end at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Brendan Fraser waves the inexperienced flag Sunday, Might 24, 2026, through the a hundred and tenth working of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
(Michael Johnson/For IndyStar)
The most recent second-place end vaulted Malukas again to second within the championship, the place he trails solely four-time champion Alex Palou. Regardless of Palou successful 4 races this yr, Malukas has remained within the championship hunt, trailing Palou by 60 factors and main Kyle Kirkwood — who gained the Grand Prix of Arlington in March — by one.
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Malukas’ focus all through the season has been cut up. At occasions, he’s gone for wins, which is the expectation for any Group Penske driver. However on the similar time, Malukas has protected outcomes, which has stored him within the combine for a championship. The 24-year-old claimed frustration is “beginning to construct” to get his first IndyCar win.
“It is at all times only a battle of making an attempt to maintain that form of contained,” Malukas stated after Street America, for the second time this season. “On the finish of the day we’re nonetheless in a championship combat, nonetheless a superb quantity of races to go. We actually by no means know what occurs.
“You are still on that fringe of I need to take some dangers to go for the win, on the similar time I must maintain it contained as a result of I do not need to make one thing silly and get out of some good factors. That is the problem of this yr, balancing between these two types of racing.”
Malukas now has 5 profession second-place finishes, which is tied for the third-most in IndyCar historical past and not using a win. Solely Vitor Meira (eight second-place finishes) and Geoff Brabham (six second-place finishes) did it extra typically than Malukas, who’s solely in his fifth season in IndyCar.
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Can Malukas win the championship and not using a win?
With eight races remaining, Malukas stays inside placing distance of Palou. Via 10 races final yr, Palou’s lead over Kirkwood — who was second on the time — was 113 factors. Malukas’ 60-point deficit appears far much less daunting.
There have been 4 drivers to win an IndyCar championship with out successful a race: Ted Horn (1946 AAA championship), Tony Bettenhausen (1958 USAC championship), Tom Sneva (1978 USAC championship) and Scott Sharp (tied for 1996 Indy Racing League championship). Horn and Sharp did so in seasons with fewer than 10 races. following the 1978 season regardless of successful the championship.
To surpass Palou with out successful a race, Malukas would want an honest string of luck. Regardless of ending greater than Palou in 4 of the final 5 races, Malukas has shrunk the hole between them by solely three factors. Catching up and not using a win is a tall process, and Malukas doing so would possible take Palou not ending at the least one of many eight remaining races (however that’s earlier than you get to Kirkwood, and even Lundgaard, being within the dialog too).
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Within the meantime, there hasn’t been an lively dialog between Malukas and his timing stand — led by strategist Travis Legislation — about defending factors when he’s in competition to win races. When Malukas was forward of Palou and Kirkwood, as he was at Street America, the purpose has nonetheless been to win whereas being good within the cockpit.
“It is extra of a psychological be aware to myself to maintain calm, maintain that managed,” Malukas stated. “On the finish of the day, I am 24 years outdated. That youthful facet of me needs to return out and do some silly stuff. I am making an attempt to maintain it calm.”
Malukas has finished virtually every part Group Penske has requested of him in his first season with the workforce. Now, the main focus is on lastly getting that win and making an attempt to cease Palou’s try at successful a record-tying fourth straight championship.
Till then, Malukas — affectionately nicknamed “Little Dave” till he will get his first win — is concentrated on staying calm, which has stored him close to the entrance of the pack as a rule in 2026.
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