We hit the halfway point of the IndyCar Wrap-Ups, and A.J. Foyt Racing had another good season. This year saw both of its cars running competitively and a change in the driver line-up was a positive. David Malukas was up to the task against Santino Ferrucci, who was coming off a revelation of a 2024 season. The team had good spells, though it was not quite as consistent as the year before. It might have been a dip, but it is still a big leap from where the team had been for the better part of the previous decade.
David Malukas
Salvaging a 2024 season by stepping into a Meyer Shank Racing for ten races, Malukas was signed early to join A.J. Foyt Racing in an anticipated program as it was believed the Team Penske-affiliated team was bringing in an unofficial Team Penske development driver. Like his past seasons, there were a few impressive days from Malukas. There were also a number of less stellar results.
What objectively was his best race?
Malukas was technically third on the road, but he will be classified as second in the Indianapolis 500 after Marcus Ericsson was disqualified from the final results. It was Malukas' best finish in the Indianapolis 500.
What subjectively was his best race?
It is hard to go against Indianapolis because Malukas spent most of that race lurking behind the lead pack. In his penultimate stint, he stretched fuel to keep himself in the picture for a shot at victory late. He never really made a move to get ahead either Ericsson or Álex Palou, but he did not falter in the biggest race of the season.
Gateway must be mentioned as well because Malukas led the most lap in the race, however slow pit stops hurt his track position, and Malukas had a moment where he went up the track making an aggressive attempt to pass Kyle Kirkwood that cost him more spots. He ended up finishing 12th.
What objectively was his worst race?
While running second, Malukas made contact with the lapped car of Louis Foster entering turn one at Nashville. Malukas spun into the barrier and the race was over, ending a promising chance at victory. He was placed 26th.
What subjectively was his worst race?
It is Nashville. The incident was avoidable. Foster was not blameless as he had made a move up the track as Malukas was approaching, but Foster was also all the way on the bottom line when Malukas made contact. Foster had nowhere to go and Malukas was perhaps a tad too aggressive and could have held off until the backstretch to make the move.
David Malukas' 2025 Statistics
Championship Position: 11th (318 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 5
Laps Led: 97
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 3
Fast Twelves: 8
Average Start: 9.411
Average Finish: 13.529
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Top Fives: 2
Top Tens: 5
Laps Led: 97
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 3
Fast Twelves: 8
Average Start: 9.411
Average Finish: 13.529
Santino Ferrucci
Back for his third season with A.J. Foyt Racing, Ferrucci was looking to defend a top ten championship finish from the 2024 season. He also had a teammate he would be extra interested in beating with the Penske ties. Ferrucci had some good days, but he didn't quite match his 2024 output. His best days this year came more down to timing than sheer speed.
What objectively was his best race?
Ferrucci caught a caution at Detroit having made his final pit stop just before a caution. This lifted him up to the lead and Ferrucci was at the front for most of the final stint, but he could not hold off Kyle Kirkwood. Ferrucci was able to come back and finish second despite fighting drivers with better tires.
It should be noted Ferrucci received a 26-point penalty as his car had an incorrect driver equivalency weight for the Detroit round. His best finish with a completely legal car was third at Road America after Ferrucci stretched his fuel to hold on ahead of Kyle Kirkwood.
What subjectively was his best race?
Nashville saw Ferrucci finish eighth after he made his own blunder on a pit stop. Ferrucci had an illegal pit entry under caution and it knocked him out of the top ten. Ferrucci made up ground quickly and got himself back into the top ten. A block from Robert Shwartzman likely cost Ferrucci another spot or two.
Gateway should get recognized as a really good race for Ferrucci on speed. He was in the top ten and led late running as long as he could before his final pit stop. Even after that stop, he still cycled out to a top five spot and finished fifth, which was likely a few spots better than how he had been running prior to that final stint.
What objectively was his worst race?
Ferrucci spun on the exit of the final corner on lap three at Portland and he hit the inside barrier. This ended his race and placed Ferrucci in last, 27th.
What subjectively was his worst race?
An accident on a damp but drying surface at Toronto meant Ferrucci could not start the race. The team could not get the car repaired in time for the race. It ended what had been a good run of form. Prior to Toronto, he had five top ten finishes in the previous seven races. After Toronto, he had one top ten finish and an average result of 18th over the final four races.
Santino Ferrucci's 2025 Statistics
Championship Position: 16th (293 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 6
Laps Led: 16
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 1
Average Start: 12.8235
Average Finish: 15.588
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 6
Laps Led: 16
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 1
Average Start: 12.8235
Average Finish: 15.588
An Early Look Ahead
This is a crossroads for A.J. Foyt Racing.
We don't know if the Team Penske technical relationship is continuing for another season. Team Penske seems to have gotten all it wanted out of this relationship. It was able to put a young driver in one of the Foyt cars and confirm his ability was good enough to offer a Team Penske seat.
For two consecutive seasons, Foyt was a championship top ten contender. Malukas did end up 11th in the championship. Ferrucci took a dip. However, if you give those 26 points back from the Detroit penalty, Ferrucci would have been 11th and a point better than Malukas. In essence, the lineup was pretty even and did not suffer a massive backward slide from 2024.
There are some concerns. Ferrucci didn't really progress this year. He had fewer top ten finishes. His two podium finishes were definitely fortunate results where cautions fell in his favor and he didn't get fully reprimanded for having an illegal car at Detroit. His qualifying form was bad in 2025. Only once did he make it out of the first round of qualifying on a road or street course. At some point, you aren't going to be able to gain seven to nine spots a race.
Malukas will be gone, and the next driver will not be a Team Penske plant. A.J. Foyt Racing doesn't have a great track record hiring drivers. It isn't clear if it will go for experience or for youth. Neither have been the proven decision for Foyt. Both have struggled.
If the Penske support is gone, it is natural to expect a step back, at least for one of the cars. There will be a lot of holes that will need to be filled, and we know where Foyt was prior to the support. It might not necessarily sink entirely to the bottom in 2026, but it is difficult to imagine it can maintain its positioning without it.
