The frequency with which people type “David Malukas height” into search bars is unexpected and somewhat amusing. Some members of the curious public are initially interested in this 24 years old height, despite the fact that he recently secured one of the most sought-after seats in American open-wheel racing and finished second at the closest Indianapolis 500 ever. The official response is 5 feet 10 inches and about 150 pounds, according to Team Penske. Not very tall. Not very small. Strangely enough, the unremarkable middle is nearly ideal for a man whose office is a carbon-fiber tub barely wider than his hips.
There’s a reason why height matters more in this sport than most people think. In the tiny, specially designed INDYCAR cockpits, every inch and pound has an impact on how a driver fits, how their weight is distributed, and how well they can endure two hours of intense g-forces. Taller drivers occasionally find it difficult to handle the car’s packaging. Ballast is occasionally necessary for the very small ones to meet minimum weight requirements. Malukas, who weighs 150 pounds and stands 5’10”, is in a comfortable position because he is long enough to reach everything without stooping and leaned enough to keep the car light. Once you see him driving, you become disinterested in this particular detail.
| Bio Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | David Joseph Malukas |
| Date of Birth | September 27, 2001 |
| Age | 24 |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Height | 5’10” (178 cm) |
| Weight | 150 lbs (68 kg) |
| Nationality | American (Lithuanian heritage) |
| Current Team | Team Penske (No. 12 Chevrolet) |
| Series | NTT INDYCAR SERIES |
| Residence | Charlotte / Lake Norman, North Carolina |
| Previous Teams | Dale Coyne Racing, Meyer Shank Racing, AJ Foyt Racing |
| Reference | Team Penske Official Driver Page |
What you see when you watch him drive is the true story. He was the only child of immigrants Henry and Daiva, who left Telšiai, Lithuania, in 1991 to start a trucking company that eventually ran 500–600 vehicles. He was raised in southwest Chicago. It’s a major operation. It’s the type of blue-collar business that supports a child’s desire to go karting without calling it a hobby. In 2015, he made an appearance on the television program Kart Life as a wiry teenager who was already pursuing something that most kids his age couldn’t relate to.
The climb was steady and occasionally breathtaking after that. He participated in the USF2000, Pro Mazda at home, ADAC F4 in Germany, and Formula 4 in the United Arab Emirates. His 2021 INDY NXT season was the kind that gets people talking, with seven wins, six poles, and a series-high sixteen podiums. He finished second only to Kyle Kirkwood following a back-and-forth championship battle that lasted all summer. It’s hard to look at that record and not wonder what might have happened if a few things had gone differently.
Next came the part of the story that still seems unjust. After signing with Arrow McLaren in early 2024, he seemed to be making progress until he was hurt in a mountain biking accident that left him with torn ligaments and a dislocated wrist. Surgery was then carried out. After months of recovery, he was eventually released from the team before he had finished a single competitive lap. I get the feeling from talking to people in the paddock that a driver with less momentum might have stopped entirely at this point. Instead, he worked in the media during the Indianapolis 500 during his downtime, quietly building relationships that would be useful in the future. Sometimes the most valuable lessons come from the darkest moments.
As his braced wrist adjusted to the brace, he made a comeback with Meyer Shank Racing, spun during Laguna Seca’s early practice, and went on. Then AJ Foyt Racing in 2025, where he started seventh and finished on two podiums, including an amazing second at the Indianapolis 500. Anyone who witnessed that race understood the message. The child’s speed could not be explained by chance.
In the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, which won two titles and the 2018 Indianapolis 500, Penske took Will Power’s place in September 2025. Recognizing the size of those shoes, Malukas has described them as an opportunity rather than a burden. He belongs, as evidenced by his early 2026 results, which include his first pole and podium at Phoenix, a second-place finish at the Sonsio Grand Prix, and another agonizing runner-up at the Indianapolis 500, where he lost to Felix Rosenqvist in the race’s closest finish ever. There were two near-misses on the same track. You start to think the cosmos owes him one.
Outside of the track, he is an almost unrelentingly normal guy who trains in jiu-jitsu, plays games, runs, cooks, and creates social media content. He adorns his cars with the Lithuanian flag in remembrance of parents who crossed the ocean to seek a better life. It’s a small gesture, but it sticks.
David Malukas stands five feet ten inches tall. People arrived in search of that number. It’s also the least interesting thing about him, a footnote to a driver who routinely finishes one spot short of glory and seems certain to eventually close that gap. It’s really hard to say if 2026 will be his year. Clearly, the height was never the objective.
i) https://www.foxsports.com/motor/david-malukas-driver-bio
ii) https://www.indycar.com/Drivers/David-Malukas
iii) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Malukas
iv) https://www.teampenske.com/drivers/index.cfm/4445/David_Malukas