It has been reported that one IndyCar team on the grid is not expected to change their driver line-up until at least 2026.
The report comes after it was announced that David Malukas will be driving for A. J. Foyt Racing starting in 2025 on a multi-year deal.
A. J. Foyt becomes the third different team Malukas has signed for in the last 12 months, having been released by Arrow McLaren in April following an unclear recovery time for a broken wrist he sustained in February. He subsequently joined Meyer Shank Racing for the remainder of the year from Laguna Seca onwards.
This situation surrounding the 22-year-old in 2024 is a prime example of how chaotic the IndyCar silly season can be, with a number of seats still up for grabs for 2025.
But it seems, according to reports, that one team on the grid already has their line-up ready to go for the future.
Team Penske are not expected to change their driver line-up until at least 2026
A. J. Foyt Racing has seen a upturn in form in 2024 as they search for their first top 10 finish in the drivers’ standings since 2002, with Santino Ferrucci’s seven top 10 finishes so far putting him 10th in the championship.
A significant reason for this resurgence is the team’s new partnership with Team Penske, which has seen A. J. Foyt benefit from Penske’s technical support and a host of new, young hires from the IndyCar giants to help them gain experience.
It has been speculated that this is a huge reason as to why Malukas has signed with A. J. Foyt, as he may now be one of the first in line for a move to Penske.
However, according to a report from The Race, Penske are not expected to change their current driver line-up until 2026 at the earliest.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin both have existing contracts with the team, while the third driver, Will Power, who won the 2014 and 2022 championship with the team, recently told The Race that he is not yet ready to end his career.
Will Power is fighting for the 2024 IndyCar title
Penske have one of the most experienced and strongest line-ups in IndyCar, with Will Power currently being the highest ranked of the three drivers as he sits in second place.
Power, who has two race wins at Road America and Iowa to his name this season, is trailing defending champion Alex Palou by 49 points as the series heads to the World Wide Technology Raceway.
McLaughlin is second out of the Penske drivers as he sits seventh in the standings, also with two wins so far in 2024.
Indy 500 winner Newgarden is ninth in the drivers’ championship and has achieved six top five finishes this season, with another at the non-championship one million dollar challenge race.