Honestly, if you told a racing fan five years ago that Will Power would ever suit up for anyone other than Roger Penske, they’d probably have laughed you out of the grandstands. It’s one of those things that just felt permanent. Like the grass being green or the Indy 500 being in May. But here we are in 2026, and the Penske driver racing switch is no longer a rumor—it's the reality of a paddock that looks vastly different than it did just twelve months ago.
The Captain doesn't usually like surprises. He likes precision. He likes "Penske Perfect." But as the 2025 season wound down, the tectonic plates under Mooresville started shifting. We’re talking about a massive restructuring across IndyCar, IMSA, and even some subtle ripples in the NASCAR stable.
The Will Power and David Malukas Swap
This is the big one. The one that actually made people drop their coffee. After 17 years and two championships, Will Power has officially moved on. On September 2, 2025, the team confirmed he’d be vacating the legendary No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. It’s weird seeing him in Andretti Global colors now, but that’s the "racing switch" everyone is buzzing about.
Taking his place is David Malukas. It’s a gutsy move by Roger Penske. Malukas is only 24, and while he’s shown flashes of brilliance—especially on ovals—he’s joining a team where the "floor" is basically winning the Indy 500. Filling Will Power's shoes is like trying to replace Tom Brady. You don't just "do" it. You survive it.
- The Power Legacy: 45 wins, 71 poles, and a 2018 Indy 500 ring.
- The Malukas Era: Youngest driver in the current Penske IndyCar lineup, signed to a multi-year deal.
- The Strategy: Penske is clearly eyeing the next decade. Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin are the "now," but Malukas is the "next."
What’s Happening in the IMSA Paddock?
While the IndyCar side was dealing with the departure of a legend, the sports car program was having its own internal meltdown—of the productive variety, I guess. Porsche Penske Motorsport (PPM) basically hit the reset button on their driver pairings for 2026.
The biggest news there was the end of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) program as we knew it, with those drivers flooding back into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Laurens Vanthoor and Kevin Estre are back in the No. 6 Porsche 963 full-time.
But look at the "switch" within the switch: Nick Tandy, a guy who basically defines Porsche racing, got reassigned to GT racing. That one stung a lot of fans. Meanwhile, Felipe Nasr is the "glue" guy holding the No. 7 car together alongside Julien Andlauer. It’s a game of musical chairs played at 200 mph, and if you aren't winning, the music stops pretty fast.
The NASCAR Stability (For Now)
You’d think with all the chaos in the open-wheel and prototype sheds, the NASCAR side would be a mess too. Surprisingly, it’s the most stable part of the building. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are locked into those "long-term" deals we always hear about but never see the fine print for.
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However, don't sleep on Austin Cindric. His contract has been the subject of a lot of "Silly Season" talk. While he’s technically set for 2026, the pressure is mounting. When your teammates are winning championships back-to-back (like Logano and Blaney did from 2022-2024), finishing 11th or 12th in the standings starts to look a lot like a problem.
Why the "Switch" Actually Happened
Usually, these things come down to two things: age and money. But with Penske, there's a third factor: The Future.
Roger Penske is 88 years old. He’s thinking about the 60th anniversary of the team this year. He wants to ensure that when he eventually hands the keys to the next generation, the cupboards aren't bare. Bringing in Malukas and reshuffling the IMSA lineup is about getting younger and more aggressive.
Some people think Will Power was pushed out because he’s 44. Maybe. But honestly? Power probably saw the writing on the wall. He wanted a multi-year security blanket that Penske—who usually does things year-to-year with veterans—wasn't willing to give. So, he took his 71 poles and went to a rival. It’s business. It’s cold. It’s racing.
Key Takeaways for the 2026 Season
If you're trying to keep track of who is where, here’s the "cheat sheet" for the Penske driver racing switch:
- IndyCar: David Malukas is in the #12; Will Power is at Andretti.
- IMSA: Vanthoor and Estre are the "new" full-timers in the #6; Nick Tandy is out of the prototype.
- NASCAR: Status quo for now, but 2027 is the real danger zone for Cindric if the results don't climb.
The Bottom Line
This 2026 season feels like a "new" Team Penske. The 17-year era of stability with Power is gone. The hybrid era in IMSA is maturing. Even the NASCAR Fords are getting a facelift with the new Mustang Dark Horse SC looming for 2027.
If you're a fan, the move is to watch the first few races of the IndyCar season specifically. See how Malukas handles the pressure of the Verizon pit box. If he falters, the "Penske Driver Racing Switch" will be remembered as the moment the Captain's armor finally showed a crack. But if he wins? Then Roger Penske has done it again.
Keep an eye on the telemetry from the Roar Before the 24. The early 2026 testing numbers for the Penske Porsches look dominant, but as we know in racing, January speed doesn't always equal November trophies. Focus on the transition periods during the long-distance races; that’s where the new driver chemistry will be tested.