Power praises Malukas for “kicking ass” as Penske replacement
- Archie O’Reilly
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Will Power has heaped praise on his Team Penske replacement David Malukas after the 24-year-old’s fourth podium of his first season with the team.
Malukas finished runner-up to Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard at Road America on Sunday, lifting him to second in the IndyCar standings after 10 rounds in 2026. Two-time series champion Power finished ninth in points last year in his final season with Penske.
“It’s cool to see him kicking ass, man,” Power said of the driver who took the reins of the legendary No.12 Verizon Chevrolet. “Honestly, eventually I was going to retire anyway. I think he was absolutely the right guy. Done a bloody good job. He’s beating his teammates every week. He’s good on ovals. He’s a package. Doing good, man.”
Power spent 17 years at Penske, achieving 42 of his 45 career IndyCar victories during his stint at the team. He has endured a challenging first season with new team Andretti Global, languishing 14th in the standings, but achieved his second third-place finish of the campaign at Road America, sharing the podium with his previous ride for the first time.
Despite his exit from Penske, which left natural bitterness given the team’s too-late offering of a fresh deal for their veteran driver, Power remains a huge admirer and supporter of Malukas.
“We’ve always been good friends ever since… was it here [at Road America] where you showed me the Vegemite?” Malukas posited to Power in the post-race press conference. “It was here. He knocked on my bus. He said: ‘Hello?’ Just walked in. I was very confused.
“He let me try Vegemite. Then I was like: ‘Wow, that’s actually pretty good. I thought I was keeping it. He said: ‘No, no, I need that back.’ Then he left. That was that.”
As the pair laughed with one another, Power chimed in on the story, adding: “I was like: ‘I like my Vegemite. You can taste it but you have to buy your own.’”
Now filling Power’s heavy boots, Malukas has made no secret of the fact he is living out his childhood fantasy by driving for Penske in a car so fabled in the sport’s history. With that, there has been a natural weight of expectation on the young Chicagoan.
But in large part being what has impressed Power, Malukas has embraced the pressure.
“Means a lot,” Malukas said of Power’s praise. “For me, the No.12 car was it specifically. The name ‘Will Power’, Verizon being on the car for so long, that was the one car I watched growing up. That’s what really got me into racing - you and obviously the Cars movie.
“To be in that car, it was a dream come true. I am not going to lie, the amount of pressure I was under heading into St. Pete, needing to fill the legend here, fill his shoes, what he’s accomplished, it was pretty stressful. But it’s a good crew.”
Now a three-time runner-up this season, including his heartbreaking loss in the Indianapolis 500 by the tightest-ever margin to the winner, Malukas’ wait for a maiden IndyCar victory goes on. But it continues to appear a mere formality.
“He’s done a great job,” Power said. “The win’s going to come, no doubt. It’s just a matter of time.”
