News Summary
- Penske won races in 2026 but again failed to challenge Álex Palou and Chip Ganassi for the IndyCar championship.
- Newgarden, McLaughlin and Malukas all enter 2027 needing greater consistency.
- Reserve driver Felipe Nasr is interested in IndyCar, although 2028 remains the more realistic opening.
Penske entered the 2026 IndyCar season looking for more than a recovery. After the controversy surrounding its modified rear attenuators during qualifying for the 2025 Indianapolis 500, the organisation needed to restore its competitive authority as well as its reputation.
There were improvements. Josef Newgarden won twice, Scott McLaughlin ended the campaign with a dominant victory at the Grand Prix of Monterey and David Malukas repeatedly came close to earning his first IndyCar win. Penske nevertheless remained outside the championship fight as Álex Palou and Chip Ganassi again controlled the season.
That leaves all three Penske drivers facing different forms of pressure in 2027. Felipe Nasr’s growing involvement with the IndyCar programme does not make an immediate change inevitable, but it gives the organisation an experienced alternative if one of its current drivers fails to deliver.
Newgarden’s victories no longer hide Penske’s inconsistency
Newgarden remained Penske’s most reliable winner during much of the year, taking two victories and continuing to demonstrate his strength on ovals. His season, however, was disrupted by the heavy crash he suffered at the Indianapolis 500.
The two-time champion required crutches and a protective boot after injuring his left foot. Although he continued racing, the greater physical demands of road and street circuits created uncertainty over whether he would be able to complete every weekend.
Nasr was placed on standby in Detroit and at Road America. The Brazilian completed simulator preparation and travelled with equipment matching Newgarden’s programme in case Penske required a substitute.
Newgarden retained the car and completed the season, but his results fluctuated during the second half of the campaign. Two victories remain significant, yet Penske expects its most accomplished active IndyCar driver to compete for championships rather than collect occasional wins.
McLaughlin’s Monterey win changed the mood, not the season
McLaughlin produced the most emphatic Penske performance of the year at Laguna Seca, controlling the Grand Prix of Monterey to finish the season with a victory.
It was an important result for both driver and team after an otherwise uneven campaign. McLaughlin recorded three additional podiums but also made costly mistakes, including during the closing stages of the Washington race.
The Monterey victory provides momentum ahead of a six-month off-season, but it does not erase the distance between Penske and Ganassi over the entire championship. McLaughlin has demonstrated that he can win on every type of circuit. His next challenge is converting that versatility into a sustained title campaign.
Malukas showed promise but left victories on the table
Malukas enjoyed a promising first season with Penske after replacing Will Power in the No. 12 Chevrolet. He was frequently the team’s most consistent driver and finished second four times.
The most painful defeat came at the Indianapolis 500, where Malukas missed victory by only 0.023s. His speed suggested a maiden IndyCar win was approaching, but it never arrived.
Malukas also made errors and dealt with pain in his left wrist. Those factors provide relevant context for his uneven performances, especially during his first season inside IndyCar’s most scrutinised organisation.
Unlike the implication that every Penske seat is immediately available, Malukas joined the team on a multi-year agreement. His position should therefore be considered more secure than those of teammates approaching contractual decision points. Even so, a second season without a victory would increase scrutiny around the No. 12 programme.
Where does Felipe Nasr fit into Penske’s IndyCar plans?
Nasr is not simply an outside candidate being linked to Penske. He is the team’s official reserve driver, has attended IndyCar rounds and completed a test at Mid-Ohio after extensive simulator work.
His experience also extends beyond his previous Formula 1 career. Nasr has won the 24 Hours of Daytona four times and collected three IMSA SportsCar titles, becoming one of the central figures in Porsche Penske Motorsport’s endurance programme.
Nasr has made no secret of his interest in IndyCar, but his existing Porsche commitment makes an immediate full-time move unlikely. His contract runs through the end of 2027, placing 2028 as the more logical opportunity.
That timing could be particularly attractive. IndyCar plans to introduce the IR-28 chassis in 2028, meaning Nasr could enter during a technical reset rather than attempt to recover years of experience with the current car.
There is no confirmation that Penske has reserved a seat for him. His testing and reserve duties nevertheless give the organisation a credible internal option if Newgarden, McLaughlin or Malukas fails to meet expectations in 2027.
Penske does not need to decide its 2028 line-up yet. Before that conversation begins, its existing drivers have an entire season to prove that the team’s uneven 2026 campaign was a temporary setback rather than its new competitive level.
The 2027 IndyCar season begins with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg from March 5-7.
Indy today: FAQ
Is there an IndyCar race today?
No. The 2026 season has ended. The next race is the 2027 St. Petersburg Grand Prix on 7 March; the race’s start time has not yet been announced.
Who will replace Scott Dixon in Ganassi’s No. 9 car?
Christian Lundgaard. Ganassi confirmed his multi-year contract on 29 September, validating the move first revealed by GRANDE PRÊMIO in July. He will drive the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda alongside Álex Palou and Kyffin Simpson.
Where will Scott Dixon race in 2027?
Dixon will join Arrow McLaren after more than two decades with Ganassi. His departure opened the No. 9 seat now assigned to Lundgaard.
Could Felipe Nasr race for Penske in IndyCar?
Nasr is Penske’s reserve driver and has completed IndyCar simulator and track work. A full-time move has not been confirmed, although 2028 is a plausible opening after his current Porsche commitment ends.
