Instead of Rinus Veekay, AJ Foyt Racing eyeing 23-year-old driver as David Malukas’ replacement

AJ Foyt Racing is reportedly eyeing a 23-year-old Indy NXT driver over Rinus Veekay to exchange David Malukas within the No. 4 Chevy within the 2026 IndyCar season. Malukas will depart the workforce to exchange Andretti World-bound Will Energy at Group Penske.

Till just a few weeks in the past, Veekay, who turned down a contract provide from Dale Coyne Racing and confirmed that he would not return to the workforce in 2026, was rumored to be the highest prospect as Malukas’ substitute at AJ Foyt Racing. Nevertheless, stories later confirmed that the Dutch driver was out of the image at AJFR.

As per a current report by RACER, the Larry Foyt-led workforce is fascinated about Caoi Collet, the 2024 Indy NXT Rookie of the 12 months, who impressed within the 2025 season with a runner-up end to champion Dennis Hauger. The workforce will consider Collet throughout a check on the Mid-Ohio circuit subsequent week on Wednesday, October 1, which might act as a precursor to his official signing as a full-time driver of the No. 4 Chevy.

Caoi Collet’s 2025 Indy NXT championship contender, Dennis Hauger, will even take part within the Mid-Ohio check, having signed with Dale Coyne Racing for the 2026 IndyCar season. Group Penske would be the third workforce testing at Mid-Ohio.

In the meantime, there was no concrete replace on Rinus Veekay’s future. There are three open seats for 2026, one every at Dale Coyne Racing, AJ Foyt Racing, and Juncos Hollinger Racing. JHR stays the one choice for Veekay except a spot at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing opens up, contemplating the rumors surrounding Devlin DeFrancesco’s performance-related exit clauses.

AJ Foyt Racing boss wished to retain David Malukas for 2026

AJ Foyt Racing Group Principal Larry Foyt wished to retain David Malukas for an additional season. However as a result of he was on a Group Penske contract and sponsored by the Roger Penske-led workforce to race within the No. 4 AJFR Chevy, the ball did not lie in Foyt’s courtroom.

In late August, Foyt spoke extremely of Malukas and his intention of retaining the 24-year-old for the 2026 season, saying (by way of RACER):

“David’s been nice to have, little doubt, received quite a lot of expertise, and actually fast. Positively a humorous, fascinating man. He cracks me up. After which he’s carried out an incredible job. Would like to preserve them round for an additional yr; unsure about what is going on to occur there, however we’ll simply see and preserve engaged on issues. And if that is not the best way it should be, that’ll be okay, and we’ll preserve going.”

Had Will Energy accepted Group Penske’s one-year extension, Malukas would stay with AJ Foyt Racing for 2026. However the two-time IndyCar champion admitted that the provide got here just a little too late, together with his spouse, Liz, feeling that his loyalty wasn’t repaid.

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Yash is a Motorsports journalist at Sportskeeda with a Bachelor’s diploma in Enterprise Administration from considered one of India’s prime B-schools. With over 1.5 years of expertise masking Formulation 1 and a brief stint masking the WNBA, he brings passionate authenticity to his writing.

Yash’s first brush with the motorsport world was unintentional. Whereas flipping TV channels, he got here throughout an episode of F1TV’s ‘Inside Tracks’. That was sufficient to engross him and make him dive head-first into devotedly following the game.

Surprisingly, he favors no specific driver or workforce. This helps him carry full objectivity to his reporting, which begins with meticulous analysis from trusted sources throughout the web.

When motorsport is not on Yash’s thoughts, he is both on the health club, out for a stroll, or indulging in inventive writing.

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Edited by Yash Kotak