RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Pato O'Ward leads David Malukas (12) and Christian Rasmussen (21) into turn one during the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 at the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin.
David Malukas is running out of ways to prove he belongs at the front of IndyCar without actually winning a race.
The 24-year-old American has been knocking on the door all season in his first year with Team Penske. He has piled up top finishes, qualified near the front and now has another brutal near-miss to add to the résumé. At Milwaukee, Malukas led 93 laps and appeared to have his first career IndyCar victory in his hands before a late restart issue allowed Pato O’Ward to steal the win. He finished second — his fourth runner-up result of the season.
At this point, it feels like Malukas is simply snakebit.
It’s the same feeling you get watching Tommy Fleetwood chase that first PGA Tour win or Sheldon Creed keep getting agonizingly close in the O’Reilly Series. You can see the talent. You can see the speed. You can see the breakthrough coming.
Malukas just needs everything to finally fall his way.
And I think it will.
The bigger picture is incredibly promising. Penske has already given him the equipment to fight at the front, and Malukas has shown he belongs there.
Now keep an eye on 2028.
With IndyCar’s next-generation car on the horizon, don’t be surprised if Team Penske finds itself back in a position of dominance — with Malukas potentially right at the center of it.
His first win isn’t a question of if.
It’s when.
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