Written by Archie O’Reilly
David Malukas is officially set to drive for AJ Foyt Racing in the 2025 IndyCar season after signing a multi-year deal with the team, meaning he will depart Meyer Shank Racing after his part-season stint in the No.66 Honda.
The 22-year-old American driver was initially set to drive for Arrow McLaren in 2024 before suffering a pre-season wrist injury, which led to a parting of ways in late April. Malukas was then given an opportunity to drive for MSR once recovered from his injury in June, starting in the eighth round at Laguna Seca.
At the time of the announcement of his departure, Malukas has raced five times for MSR with a best finish of sixth in Toronto. He has quickly got up to speed again after his injury, qualifying no lower than 14th, including a pair of Fast Six appearances and a Fast 12 result in his return race at Laguna Seca.
“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to join AJ Foyt Racing,” Malukas said. “The team has performed very well this season and I can’t wait to get to work with them and immerse myself in that environment. The history and success of both AJ Foyt Racing and A.J. Foyt himself were key factors in my decision to join the team.
“Everyone knows that A.J. is a legend and he was someone whose name I always heard growing up. To have the opportunity to work alongside him and drive for his team is very special. I am starting a new chapter in my INDYCAR career, and I am eager to achieve strong results with AJ Foyt Racing.”
Malukas finished as runner-up in the 2021 Indy Lights season, winning seven times and finishing off the podium only twice in 20 races. Current Andretti Global IndyCar driver Kyle Kirkwood finished as champion that year, only 13 points ahead of Malukas.
The Chicago-born driver graduated to IndyCar in 2022 with Dale Coyne Racing, where he spent two years and finished a respectable 16th and 17th in the championship standings. He notched two podiums in that period, both coming on the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway oval - a second-place finish in 2022 and third in 2023.
“David will be a great addition to AJ Foyt Racing,” team president Larry Foyt said. “He is a fierce competitor who possesses a great deal of natural talent. I think David will be a super fit with our engineers and mechanics, and he will be an important factor as we continue to ascend the IndyCar rankings.”
It is unconfirmed who Malukas will line up alongside at AJ Foyt Racing, though Santino Ferrucci is currently 10th in the championship standings while Sting Ray Robb sits 21st.
Malukas steps away from MSR amid reports that they could be set to form a technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2025 season. But in moving to AJ Foyt Racing, he gets to reap the benefits of a partnership with Team Penske, which has allowed the Foyt team to flourish on all types of track in 2024.
“For me, the 2024 season was very chaotic and did not go to plan, so I am looking forward to a new beginning,” Malukas added in the team’s release. “I am mostly looking forward to being a part of such a special team.
“The recent alliance with Team Penske this season has clearly been beneficial, and I want to be sure that we build the right environment, not just for myself, but for the mechanics, engineers and everyone else who makes this all possible. In the few years I have been in IndyCar, I have found that a strong team dynamic is crucial for success.
“As long as we focus on building good chemistry, I am confident that the results will follow.”
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