Helio Castroneves has by no means run a NASCAR race at any degree, however he’ll intention to make his debut within the greatest race of all of them. The Brazilian racer and four-time Indy 500 Champion will staff up with Trackhouse Racing and their Mission 91 program for the 67th working of ‘The Nice American Race’ at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. Nonetheless, it will not be his first race on the Daytona oval, because the 49-year-old did run some IROC races on the 2.5-mile superspeedway between 2002 and 2005.
Castroneves will not be the primary Indy 500 champion to try the occasion, but it surely has not occurred since Juan Pablo Montoya final ran it in 2013. Solely two former Indy 500 winners have ever gained the Daytona 500 — Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt.
Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
Picture by: Sam Cobb / Motorsport Photos
Project91 is a particular part-time automotive utilized by Trackhouse as an all-star entry in choose occasions since 2022. It has made appearances with each Kimi Raikkonen and Shane van Gisbergen, together with a victory within the 2023 Chicago Avenue Course race with SVG. Nonetheless, the automotive didn’t make any begins throughout the 2024 season. Castroneves shall be sponsored by Wendy’s in his Daytona 500 effort, which first partnered with Trackhouse early final 12 months. Veteran crew chief Darian Grubb will lead the trouble from atop the pit field. Grubb gained the 2006 Daytona 500 as a crew chief for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports entry with Jimmie Johnson.
“By no means in my wildest desires did I feel I might enter a NASCAR race and definitely not the Daytona 500 with a staff like Trackhouse Racing,” mentioned Castroneves. “This is a chance that no one of their proper thoughts might ever flip down. I’m so grateful to Wendy’s for permitting me to put on their uniform and drive their automotive, (Trackhouse proprietor) Justin Marks and everybody that made this occur. I want the race have been tomorrow!”
Castroneves shall be amongst a number of open entries within the 500 the place unchartered automobiles should race their approach into the occasion by way of the Duel races. The open area is setting as much as be one of many greatest in current 500 historical past and is predicted to incorporate former Cup champions Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. 36 automobiles are locked into the sector by way of charters, however the ultimate 4 spots within the 40-car grid shall be crammed by open entries. Amongst those that are additionally confirmed to try this 12 months’s Daytona 500 are Mike Wallace, J.J. Yeley and B.J. McLeod.
Castroneves shall be a part of a four-car effort for Trackhouse, which can symbolize 4 totally different international locations within the season-opening occasion. The Indy 500 champion will compete alongside teammates Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and van Gisbergen.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Helio Castroneves
Trackhouse Racing Workforce
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