Chevrolet and Team Penske are gearing up for the 2026 IndyCar season with a clear goal to reclaim championship success. Having first partnered in 1968, the Chevrolet IndyCar Team Penske collaboration has spanned multiple decades, with a rich history of driver championships and race victories fueling their ambitions. The focus this upcoming season is on improving consistency and delivering strong performances across diverse race tracks to stake their claim on IndyCar glory.
Historical Success and Recent Performance Overview
Chevrolet’s involvement with Team Penske covers many years ranging from the late 1960s through the present, including continuous participation slated through 2026. The partnership has produced six driver championships, with Danny Sullivan’s 1988 title marking the first success, followed by more recent triumphs by Will Power (2014 and 2022), Simon Pagenaud (2016), and Josef Newgarden (2017 and 2019).
Over the decades, Chevrolet-powered cars have accumulated numerous wins, pole positions, and podiums, reinforcing the team’s competitive presence. This extensive record provides a solid foundation as they look to build momentum and address recent challenges in pursuit of the 2026 title.
Josef Newgarden: Veteran Leadership and Renewed Determination
Josef Newgarden, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Team Penske, remains a critical figure in the team’s efforts. At 35 years old, Newgarden holds 32 Chevrolet-powered wins, ranking him 10th on the all-time IndyCar win list and making him the current leader in wins among Chevrolet drivers. His career highlights include back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2019, with a recent 12th-place finish in 2025 signaling a season falling short of expectations.
Newgarden has expressed a strong desire to improve consistency after several challenging results last year.
“If we don’t want to finish 12th in the standings, we’ve got to finish more races,”
he stated, emphasizing the importance of completing events to contend effectively in the championship.
On assuming a more seasoned leadership role within the team, Newgarden acknowledged the transition.
“Fine. You know what, I am the old guy totally. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I’ve always had a strong sense for what I’ve wanted. That part is not going to change. When I was young, now I’m older, I’ll still have the same projection in my voice on what I think we need to be doing. That part is going to be similar.”
– Josef Newgarden, Driver
Newgarden’s technical team includes strategist Jonathan Diuguid, race engineer Luke Mason, and crew chief Chad Gordon, all working to optimize race strategies and car performance as they seek to regain form in the upcoming season.
Scott McLaughlin Focuses on Redemption and Team Synergy
Scott McLaughlin, the No. 3 Chevrolet driver from New Zealand, is aiming to bounce back after a challenging 2025 season where he finished 10th overall. At 32, McLaughlin has earned seven wins and eleven poles with Chevrolet since his IndyCar debut, positioning him tenth among the team’s all-time performers in wins.
He highlighted the need for improvement, saying,
“I guess you could say it’s a bit of redemption in some ways. It was a terrible year on my part last year. I felt like we left a lot on the table.”
McLaughlin also expressed excitement about the positive morale within Team Penske after a productive off-season, stating,
“There’s so much want to be back to where we want to be consistently, and I think there’s a refreshed sort of focus which has been really cool to be a part of and see. I’m really, really excited and just ready to go.”
– Scott McLaughlin, Driver
Strategist Tim Cindric, race engineer Raul Prados, and crew chief Trevor Lacasse support McLaughlin, blending extensive expertise and experience to sharpen the team’s performance.
David Malukas Emerging as a Consistent Contender
At 24 years old, David Malukas is one of the younger talents on Team Penske’s Chevrolet roster, driving car No. 12. Entering his third full season with 17 starts under his belt, Malukas secured his first podium finish at the Indianapolis 500 in 2025 and aims to build consistency moving forward.
Malukas outlined his primary 2026 goal clearly:
“To have consistency between all of them, that would be a successful year for me.”
Regarding the importance of a strong start, he noted the challenges of adapting to new teams and cars but remained optimistic, saying,
“It’s just going to be trying to make sure we’ll get there, because eventually we will get there. We’ll learn it, as I have with any other car previously. Not really too pressured on that. I think it’ll be fine.”
He also benefits from Chevrolet’s simulator being close to his residence, which improves preparation and performance.
“It makes a world of difference because before you’d have to do a whole flight and multiple days. Now I can just drive right up there,”
Malukas explained.
“And it’s a lot better because honestly, the big difference I’d say is just from an energy perspective because I would always do like the early morning flight and then go straight go the sim, so even just performance on the sim is definitely better now since I’m having a full proper sleep.”
– David Malukas, Driver
His support crew consists of strategist Travis Law, race engineer James Schnabel, and crew chief Blaine Hardy as Malukas strives to enhance his impact in the series.
Team Penske’s Strategic Focus and Upcoming Challenges
Team Penske’s 2026 efforts with Chevrolet are underpinned by a desire for greater consistency, fewer mistakes, and competitiveness across the IndyCar circuit’s diversity of street courses, road courses, and ovals. Drivers Newgarden, McLaughlin, and Malukas each bring unique experience and ambitions, supported by skilled strategists, engineers, and crew chiefs who will play vital roles in vehicle setup and race-day tactics.
The renewed focus and heightened morale, as expressed by team members, signal a strong collective determination to overcome past setbacks and regain competitive momentum.
The Implications for Chevrolet and Team Penske Moving Forward
As the 2026 season approaches, Chevrolet and Team Penske have set the stage for an intense campaign aimed at returning to championship contention. With a history of multiple titles and a lineup featuring both veteran leadership and emerging talent, the team’s trajectory depends heavily on improved race consistency and capitalizing on every performance opportunity.
The outcome of this concerted push could significantly influence the balance of power in IndyCar, with Chevrolet-powered Team Penske drivers positioned to challenge rival teams and push for top honors in one of motorsport’s premier series.
