If you think today's IndyCars are fast at Phoenix... The one-mile Phoenix Raceway oval has become a stage for stark contrasts between NASCAR’s Cup Series and IndyCar’s high-speed spectacle, as fans witness the dramatic differences in speed and performance between the two racing series. During the Good Ranchers 250, Team Penske’s David Malukas secured pole position in the No. 12 Chevy with a two-lap average of 175.3mph, while Cup drivers will wait until Saturday to qualify for their Sunday race. For context, Denny Hamlin’s pole in the November championship-deciding race averaged 133.7mph, highlighting a 41.6mph gap in average speed and a 6.5-second difference in lap times. For newer IndyCar fans, these numbers may seem staggering, but a look back at the series’ history reveals how much the DW12 has evolved. During the 2016-18 manufacturer aero kit era, Helio Castroneves set a record pole in the No. 3 Chevy at 194.9mph, a 19.6mph increase over Malukas’ current pace and 61.2mph faster than Hamlin’s November lap. Castroneves also completed the lap in 18.7 seconds, outpacing Malukas by 2.6 seconds and Hamlin by 8.2. The technical differences between the 2016-17 aero kit era and today’s rules are significant. The introduction of the aeroscreen cockpit safety device in 2020 added over 100 pounds of weight, while the adoption of hybridization with an energy recovery system in 2024 pushed the DW12’s minimum weight to its highest level since rear-engine designs became standard in the 1960s. These changes were implemented to prioritize tire safety and longevity, as the high speeds and increased weight put immense stress on the right-side tires. To address this, engine power was reduced by dialing down turbocharger boost, and downforce was adjusted to make cornering more challenging without lifting the throttle.#david_malukas #team_penske #indycar #denny_hamlin #helio_castroneves
David Malukas Earns First Career NTT P1 Award at Phoenix David Malukas secured his first career NTT P1 Award in qualifying for the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, marking a significant milestone in his IndyCar career. The Chicago-area native, who joined Team Penske this offseason for his fifth season in the series, turned the fastest two-lap qualifying average of 175.383 mph in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. His pole position sets the stage for a potential first career victory in the 250-lap race scheduled for Saturday. Malukas, who previously earned second-place finishes three times last season with AJ Foyt Racing, expressed his excitement about finally securing pole position. “Finally!” he said. “I’m so happy. So many P2s. The story of ovals last season was we had it, waited until the last few guys and then boom, you get P2. But finally we got it.” Malukas was the 13th of 24 drivers to attempt qualifying on the 1-mile desert oval after leading practice sessions at 175.605 mph. The pole position also marked a front-row sweep for Team Penske, the most successful team in recent years on short ovals. Josef Newgarden, who won at Phoenix in 2018, qualified second at 174.548 mph in the No. 2 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing had a breakthrough performance on the short oval, a challenge for the team in recent seasons. Graham Rahal qualified third at 173.993 mph in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda, while rookie Mick Schumacher, competing in his first oval race, secured the fourth starting spot at 173.667 mph in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda. Schumacher, a Formula One veteran, praised his team’s effort. “We knew what we had to do, and we managed to put a good couple of laps together,” he said. “I’m excited to run the race.#david_malukas #team_penske #phoenix_raceway #good_ranchers_250 #josef_newgarden
