Rumors of David Malukas prepping for Team Penske seat addressed by AJ Foyt Racing president

AJ Foyt Enterprises president, Larry Foyt, recently spoke about their 2025 IndyCar driver, David Malukas, potentially being prepped for a Team Penske seat in the future.

AJ Foyt Racing and Team Penske entered a technical partnership in mid-2023. This allowed the Roger Penske-led team to use AJ Foyt Racing as a 'training ground' for younger staff and junior drivers from the Indy NXT - similar to Red Bull and VCARB's partnership in F1.

On August 13, 2024, when Foyt announced David Malukas as one of their drivers for 2025, some in the IndyCar paddock believed that the youngster was being set up for a Penske contract in the future.

In an interview with EPARTRADE, Foyt president Larry Foyt, the son of IndyCar legend AJ Foyt, addressed this rumor. He said:

"Obviously, the Penske organization has a lot of people that have a lot of success in this industry. So when I'm looking at drivers too, I certainly run things by them because I want to know their feedback. So obviously, they were very high on Malukas. But shoot, I'll try to keep him, right? If we're going good, certainly, I would try to keep him." [7:10]

The former NASCAR and IndyCar driver also spoke about the multi-year contracts of Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Scott McLaughlin, and how the team is less likely to switch any driver out in the near future.

"They've got drivers coming up in contract years and things like that, but I don't think they've made any decisions that they're certainly moving on from anybody," he added.

Malukas will get his first taste of the new journey with AJ Foyt teammate Santino Ferrucci for the 2025 IndyCar season at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 2.

AJ Foyt president 'excited' for David Malukas' comeback after 2024 Arrow McLaren debacle

2023 Grand Prix Of Long Beach - Acura Grand Prix Media Luncheon - Source: Getty

David Malukas had an undesirable start to 2024. He underwent surgery on his left hand after injuring it in a mountain biking accident in February. What could've been a stellar first year with Arrow McLaren, led to them prematurely releasing him in April, citing the absence of a definite recovery timeline.

After his recovery, Meyer Shank Racing signed him in June for the remainder of the season. In the 10 races starting with the Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca, the 23-year-old scored two top-10 finishes. This turnaround impressed Larry Foyt. In the interview with EPARTRADE, he laid high expectations on Malukas for 2025.

"We're excited to have two young guys that can really know how to push the pedal, I think, that can push each other. It'll be fun. I am really excited about David. His comeback from his injury was just awesome, the speed he showed, and we're just trying to put a good car under him, and have him and Santino fighting for wins, hopefully," he said.

David Malukas previously raced for Dale Coyne Racing in 2022 and 2023, securing a career-best P2 finish at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in his rookie year.