David Malukas made a notable impression on the first day of the Unser INDYCAR Open Test at Phoenix Raceway. The driver, who recently joined Team Penske, led the session, clocking a fast lap of 172.605 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. This performance marks his first official NTT INDYCAR SERIES test since becoming part of the team.
Malukas Steals the Spotlight
Malukas expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It feels good to be P1, but at the end of the day, we just ran through our test items.” He emphasized the importance of the testing process, noting that they had learned valuable information during the session.
Team Penske’s Dominance
With Malukas leading the way, Team Penske noted a strong one-two finish on the opening day of the two-day test. Two-time series champion Josef Newgarden secured second place, achieving a lap time of 172.201 in the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet. Following closely behind was 2018 series champion Will Power in third at 171.706 with the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.
Top Performers of the Day
- David Malukas (P1) – 172.605 mph (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet)
- Josef Newgarden (P2) – 172.201 mph (No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet)
- Will Power (P3) – 171.706 mph (No. 26 TWG AI Honda)
- Kyle Kirkwood (P4) – 171.423 mph (No. 27 Siemens Honda)
- Alex Palou (P5) – 171.357 mph (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
Impressive Rookie Performances
The day also showcased promising performances from several rookies. Dennis Hauger, the 2025 INDY NXT champion, placed 17th overall at 169.259 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Honda. Formula One veteran Mick Schumacher, who is relatively new to oval racing, finished 23rd with a lap of 164.006 in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda.
Incidents and Highlights
Notably, rookie Caio Collet faced a minor setback, making contact in Turn 4 with his No. 4 COMBITRANS AMAZONIA Chevrolet. Fortunately, he exited the car unharmed.
What’s Next for INDYCAR
Testing will continue tomorrow, serving as a final preparation for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. Cars will be on track between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET and 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET. The season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, is scheduled for March 1, followed by the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix on March 7, marking the series’ return to Phoenix since 2018.
