For the first time since their respective career moves, Power and Malukas found themselves standing next to each other on the podium at Road America.
Power departed Team Penske to join Andretti Global and was replaced by Malukas who moved from AJ Foyt Racing.
Malukas had long been tipped to replace Power with it widely believed to be a matter of when, not if.
Ultimately a one-year extension wasn’t enough to keep Power at Team Penske in 2026 – and so he moved to Andretti, opening the door for Malukas to take the reins.
“It’s cool to see him kicking ass, man,” said third place finisher Power.
“Honestly, eventually I was going to retire anyway.
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“I think he was absolutely the right guy. Done a bloody good job.
“He’s beating his teammates every week. He’s good on ovals. He’s a package.
“Doing good, man.”
Malukas, who finished second to McLaren’s Christian Lungaard at Road America, cited Power as one of his early inspirations.
Since joining Penske, Malukas has been the new custodian of the #12 car and even carried a Power tribute livery earlier this year at Indianapolis.
“It means a lot,” said Malukas of Power’s endorsement.
“For me the #12 car was it specifically. The name Will Power, Verizon being on the car for so long. That was the one car I watched growing up.
“That’s what really got me into racing, you and obviously the Cars movie. That’s what got me into racing. To be in that car, it was a dream come true.
“I’m not going to lie. The amount of pressure I was under heading into St. Pete, needing to fill the legend here, fill his shoes, what he’s accomplished, it was pretty stressful.”
Malukas recounted his funny first interaction with Power at the same Wisconsin circuit
“We’ve always been good friends ever since… was it here where you showed me the Vegemite? It was here,” said the 24-year-old.
“He knocked on my bus. He said, ‘Hello’. Just walked in. I was very confused.
“He let me try Vegemite. Then I was like, ‘Wow, that’s actually pretty good’. I thought I was keeping it. He said, ‘no, no, I need that back’.”
Power chimed in: “I was like, ‘I like my Vegemite. You can taste it, but you have to buy your own’.
Malukas added: “Then he left, that was that.”
The young American has been IndyCar’s perennial bridesmaid since his 2022 debut with Dale Coyne Racing.
He was a standout in his rookie season, finishing runner-up to Josef Newgarden at Gateway, putting him on the radar of bigger teams.
In 70 starts, he’s been runner-up on five occasions. That includes twice being the runner-up in the Indianapolis 500.
As it stands, Malukas is second in the standings, 60 points behind Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou.
“He’s done a great job,” Power said of Malukas.
“The win’s going to come. No doubt. It’s just a matter of time.”
IndyCar continues at Mid-Ohio on July 6 (AEST).
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