We are reaching the final stretch of our IndyCar Wrap-Up, and we reach Team Penske, which was good in 2026, and that was about it. Good, but not great, and this is where Team Penske has been for the last two seasons. While the team cracked the championship top five after being shut out last year, it only won three races. This was the second consecutive season the organization failed to crack four victories, a first for the team since 2004-05. It was the first time since 1997-99 Team Penske went consecutive seasons without a top-four championship finisher. It should not feel overwhelmingly negative after this season, but positivity is nearly nonexistent.
David Malukas
Despite having not won a race in his first four IndyCar seasons, Malukas earned the call to Team Penske. He had never finished in the top five on a road or street course in his first four seasons. He had only five top five finishes in his first 61 starts. While he was coming off his best championship finish, this was a momentous opportunity for Malukas, and his greatest shot in IndyCar. The moment was not too great for him.
What objectively was his best race?
Malukas was runner-up in three races this season: The Grand Prix of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis 500 and the Milwaukee race that began on Saturday. The Grand Prix of Indianapolis was his first podium finish on a road or street course.
What subjectively was his best race?
Second place in the Indianapolis 500 is supposed to feel painful. I am sure it is agonizing to finish second by 0.0233 seconds, the closest finish in race history. It should not overshadow how well Malukas ran in that race and that he led the third-most laps. He looked comfortable and made moves to put him in position to lead on the final lap, even if it was not enough to finish first.
The Milwaukee race that started on Saturday should be recognized because Malukas was one of the best cars, and if it wasn’t for a stumble in his engine on a late restart, he likely would have held off Patricio O’Ward. Instead, O’Ward bolted through and took the victory.
Even the IMS road course race should get a mention because Malukas had never had a road or street course race like that. He was leading entering the final phase of the race, and Christian Lundgaard took advantage of traffic and warmer tires to take the lead after the final pit cycle. It didn’t finish how Malukas wished, but he should be proud about the entire race went.
What objectively was his worst race?
Clipping the barrier on entrance of the final turn at Washington, D.C. ricocheted Malukas into the outside barrier and placed Malukas 24th in the final result. It was Malukas’ only retirement of the season.
What subjectively was his worst race?
Two of his three runner-up finishes are his worst races, but they weren’t bad races. Indianapolis hurts because it appeared he had it in the bag. Malukas took the lead at the start of the final lap and second and third proceeded to run side-by-side for about 80% of the lap. It should have been game over. The field should have lost its momentum and Malukas should have held on for one laps, and yet he didn’t.
Milwaukee was in his hand. The match was on his racket and an error occurred. He was in control and it fell out of his grasp seemingly without Malukas doing anything wrong.
David Malukas's 2026 Statistics
Championship Position: 5th (514 points)
Wins: 0
Podiums: 6
Top Fives: 9
Top Tens: 13
Laps Led: 282
Poles: 1
Fast Sixes: 9
Fast Twelves: 12
Average Start: 8.1667
Average Finish: 7.1667
Podiums: 6
Top Fives: 9
Top Tens: 13
Laps Led: 282
Poles: 1
Fast Sixes: 9
Fast Twelves: 12
Average Start: 8.1667
Average Finish: 7.1667
Scott McLaughlin
After a winless 2025 season, McLaughlin was hoping to return to his top tier form in 2026. For the first half of the season, McLaughlin was hardly notable. Good races were not frequent. He was a little more consistent over the summer, but he was still not outstanding. The final two weekends swung McLaughlin’s season mightily, and he ended on one of the highest notes.
What objectively was his best race?
McLaughlin ended a 35-race winless drought in the Laguna Seca season finale. McLaughlin led from pole position and went on to lead 87 of 95 laps. He never fully pulled away from Kyle Kirkwood, but McLaughlin was never under much pressure.
What subjectively was his best race?
It is Laguna Seca. McLaughlin was the best driver in this race. It was probably the only time he was one of the best drivers in a race. St. Petersburg should receive a mention as well, another race where he started on pole position only to lose the lead through pit cycle to Álex Palou.
What objectively was his worst race?
McLaughlin went for the lead late in Washington, D.C. On a late restart, McLaughlin dove up the inside of Kirkwood entering turn one. McLaughlin got ahead, the only problem is he had to avoid the barrier and he drove straight into it. Instead of first, McLaughlin was 22nd.
What subjectively was his worst race?
It is Washington, D.C. because of the lost result, but McLaughlin had a handful of races where he did not factor. He wasn’t good at Barber Motorsports Park, finishing 16th. Contact with Will Power cost him a possible top five in Detroit, taking 19th instead. He never had the pace at Mid-Ohio.
Scott McLaughlin's 2026 Statistics
Championship Position: 6th (483 points)
Wins: 1
Podiums: 4
Top Fives: 7
Top Tens: 12
Laps Led: 189
Poles: 3
Fast Sixes: 6
Fast Twelves: 8
Average Start: 8.722
Average Finish: 8.777
Wins: 1
Podiums: 4
Top Fives: 7
Top Tens: 12
Laps Led: 189
Poles: 3
Fast Sixes: 6
Fast Twelves: 8
Average Start: 8.722
Average Finish: 8.777
Josef Newgarden
After nearly going winless and having his worst championship finish in over a decade, Newgarden was hoping for a bounce back in 2026. He didn’t have to wait until the last day of the season for a victory, however, the overall season was not a return to his top form. It was an improvement but the struggles continued, and an injury suffered in the Indianapolis 500 plagued the rest of his year.
What objectively was his best race?
Newgarden won twice this season. The first victory was at the second race of the season at Phoenix when a late caution saw Newgarden make a pit stop for fresh tires. Those tires proved to be the difference as Newgarden worked his way from tenth to first in a race where Newgarden did not show great potential for victory until he had the tire advantage.
The second victory was at Gateway, and Newgarden spent much of this race in the top five. He did not lead the most laps but he timed it to lead late and led 52 of the final 57 laps on his way to victory.
What subjectively was his best race?
The Phoenix drive was impressive, but the tires largely decided that race. Gateway saw Newgarden run at the front and be one of the best drivers. He didn’t lead 200 laps, but he paced himself for the final stint and asserted his dominance as the laps wound down. Even when running second or third, it felt like Newgarden was always going to win at Gateway.
What objectively was his worst race?
An accident on a restart in the Indianapolis 500 placed Newgarden 28th despite running in the top five at the time. This accident left Newgarden with a left foot injury that saw him in a walking boot for much of the remainder of the season.
What subjectively was his worst race?
Indianapolis hurt his season. Though Newgarden won at Gateway with the injury, he struggled mightily at road and street courses afterward. He salvaged some respectable results but he was not at 100% and running as well as he could. It didn’t cost him victories, but days where he barely held onto the top ten or snuck into the top ten could have been races he was pushing for the top five.
Road America should be mentioned because contact with Nolan Siegel late led to a penalty and cost Newgarden a possible top ten result.
He also had an odd outing in the Milwaukee race that started on Sunday. He started strong, drove to the lead and then struggled on the long run and lost ground. He spun exiting turn four and it cost him a potential top five result.
Josef Newgarden's 2026 Statistics
Championship Position: 8th (423 points)
Wins: 2
Podiums: 3
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Laps Led: 88
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 4
Average Start: 12.222
Average Finish: 11.055
Wins: 2
Podiums: 3
Top Fives: 3
Top Tens: 4
Laps Led: 88
Poles: 0
Fast Sixes: 0
Fast Twelves: 4
Average Start: 12.222
Average Finish: 11.055
An Early Look Ahead
Team Penske is at an odd spot because its best driver in the championship went winless and its worst driver in the championship was responsibility for most of the team’s victories, and the team’s most confident driver at the end season is likely the driver that finished in the middle.
This team was a whisker away from winning the Indianapolis 500, and it probably should have won another two races. This was closer to a great season than a terrible season even if it doesn’t feel that way.
Nobodies job security feels safe.
Malukas is exciting, but he must win eventually. He should. He should have already, but it might not happen. Then what?
McLaughlin ended with a victory, but he also essentially went two full seasons without a victory. We are one result away from saying 2027 is make-or-break, and there is a chance we could be saying that come this time next year.
Newgarden is winning races, but his overall form has been subpar and he has not shown competitive pace on road/street courses for basically three seasons, you know, the part that makes up two-thirds of the schedule. Not to forget mentioning Newgarden feels emotionally withdrawn from the team, especially after the 2024 push-to-pass scandal.
There is a greater than zero chance Penske could have three new drivers in 2028. It isn’t high but it exists and that sounds crazy. That is the worst case scenario for 2027.
Somewhere in the middle, but not quite the best case scenario, is all three drivers are winning races next year, they are a little better in the championship and one, if not two, of them have a good chance at the title. There is a world where Penske wins six races and goes second, third and sixth in the championship, and it feels like Penske never took a dip.
It feels like everything is on the table for Team Penske, good and bad, I am not sure any other team can say that, especially for the worst outcomes. It will likely work out, and everything will be close to average, but this does not feel like a locked down and secure unit like we are used to with Team Penske.
All three drivers are on a hot seat and need results in a sense despite all three being rather productive in 2026. There will be a pressure to perform and it will add a layer to next season. With this level of uncertainty, change feels inevitable.
