A season that calls for greater consistency
Team Penske enters the 2027 discussion with three victories from 2026 but no driver among the championship’s top four. IndyCar’s review published on 6 November asks how the team can return to sustained competitiveness across ovals, permanent circuits and street tracks. The panel’s assessments are editorial opinions; the final standings provide the verifiable sporting reference points for the completed season and the starting point for the next campaign.
Malukas led Penske in the standings
David Malukas finished fifth on 514 points, ahead of Scott McLaughlin in sixth on 482 and Josef Newgarden in eighth on 423. Malukas did not win but collected nine top-five finishes; McLaughlin took one victory and Newgarden two.
| Driver | Position | Points | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Malukas | 5 | 514 | 0 |
| Scott McLaughlin | 6 | 482 | 1 |
| Josef Newgarden | 8 | 423 | 2 |
From oval success to road-course form
Eric Smith notes that Newgarden delivered two of the team’s 2026 victories on ovals, while McLaughlin won the Laguna Seca finale. McLaughlin ended the season with three consecutive top-five finishes. For Newgarden, the review identifies Road America in 2022 as his most recent permanent-road-course victory. Those observations explain the question about where Penske’s performance is concentrated, without automatically predicting how any of its drivers will perform in the coming year.
The reference points for next season
APEX analysis: three victories can demonstrate a team’s speed under particular conditions, while a championship requires points throughout the calendar. Future assessment should consider pace across each circuit type and the frequency of solid results. The IndyCar review also raises Newgarden’s contractual future through Curt Cavin’s opinion; a contributor’s prediction does not confirm an extension. The completed 2026 standings remain the evidence-based starting point, and subsequent announcements or race results should be evaluated separately.
