IndyCar teams Caio Collet (No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing) and David Malukas (No. 12 Team Penske) will start the Portland race from the back of the field after their squads received a six‑place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change carried out in the wake of Nashville crashes.
Grid Penalties Shake Up Portland Grid
The penalty followed significant damage at the Nashville Superspeedway, where Collet’s car went airborne mid‑lap and Malukas suffered a heavy impact during practice. Team Penske rushed a new power unit days later, but the change violated IndyCar’s approved‑engine rule set, triggering the sanction. The two drivers will have to push from positions 13 and 14 respectively, which adds extra strategic challenge to an already demanding street circuit.
Championship Implications Before Final Sprint
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday night, 7 p.m. EST, with the race at 4 p.m. EST Sunday afternoon. The Portland event kicks off the last month of the 2026 season, leaving just four races to determine the title. David Malukas enters the race as the championship runner‑up, 83 points behind title contender Alex Palou. Brad Kirkwood sits a mere four points back of the No. 12 driver and is in third overall.
The Penske entry, which previously claimed victory at this venue with Will Power, now faces a different fate: Malukas is still chasing his first IndyCar win after eight career podiums. His high point has proven the closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history, where he rebounded short of victory by 0.023 seconds to Felix Rosenqvist in the 2026 edition.
Malukas Aiming for First IndyCar Victory
With the season’s final races approaching, Malukas is sharpening his focus on Portland. The driver’s recent medical scare—transported to a local hospital and managing a sore knee—did not deter his ambition. The adjusted grid position may harden the race, but a single overtake could secure his inaugural IndyCar triumph.
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