Helio Castroneves, at 49 years outdated, stays a charismatic persona and energetic driver full with a exceptional resume — profitable the Indianapolis 500 4 occasions and incomes three consecutive general victories within the Rolex 24. However the problem ‘Spider Man’ is about tackle subsequent month at Daytona, is one thing totally new, by no means having pushed a NASCAR inventory automotive at any degree, and his solely expertise on Daytona’s oval-only structure was twenty years in the past whereas racing IROC.
The concept to run NASCAR’s greatest race fashioned slightly extra lately, and gained momentum whereas Castroneves was competing within the Celebrity Racing Expertise. Sequence CEO Don Hawk promised to assist the open-wheel legend safe a trip for the Daytona 500 ought to he win an SRX race — which Castroneves did in 2022 at 5 Flags Speedway. The Brazilian driver shared that from that time onward, the concept started ‘snowballing,’ resulting in a reference to Trackhouse Racing group proprietor Justin Marks, recognized for its NASCAR Undertaking 91 program that has been used as a launching pad into the inventory automotive collection for international motorsports stars Kimi Raikkonen and Shane van Gisbergen.
It is a ‘no’ from the Captain
“Final yr we could not do it,” mentioned Castroneves in a Tuesday media convention, however now, all of the items are lastly in place for a authentic effort. The four-time Indy 500 winner has wished to tackle NASCAR for some time, however it was by no means doable — even whereas driving for Crew Penske (in IndyCar).
“It is one thing that I used to be desirous about. I all the time wished to do it. Once I used to race with Penske, I requested about it, however Roger [Penske] by no means allowed me to. However now, lastly! You gotta maintain pushing. You gotta maintain believing in the future that dream will come true and right here we go.”
Whereas the seasoned driver has zero NASCAR expertise, he does have the expertise of a handful of IROC races on the 2.5-mile superspeedway from the early 2000s. Any little bit of that have is likely to be useful as Castroneves, as an open entry, races his approach into the 40-car discipline through the Duel races on February 15. And it isn’t a straightforward feat, even for essentially the most seasoned of drivers. Final yr, seven-time NASCAR Cup champ and two-time Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson practically missed the five hundred earlier than a last-lap stack-up saved him. “Will probably be a problem,” admitted Castroneves. “No query about that. It is a large oval. It is a robust oval. Plenty of fearless rivals, however I’ve a fantastic group behind me.”
Trackhouse is specifically suited to bringing in drivers with restricted to no expertise. The aim of its Undertaking 91 program is to create and foster a path for star drivers from varied disciplines to get a run within the inventory automotive collection — usually those that would not get the prospect in any other case. “They did this earlier than the place folks had no expertise in any respect they usually perceive,” continued Castroneves. “They’re guiding me. They’re doing every little thing they will.”
Making preparations and the most important problem
Preparation for NASCAR’s large race contains simulator work, a shakedown take a look at at Talladega, and as revealed on Wednesday, a begin within the ARCA season-opener at Daytona. SVG adopted the same path forward of the 2024 NASCAR season as he discovered superspeedway racing.
“Wonderful facility with Chevy,” Castroneves mentioned on his expertise within the producer’s NASCAR’s sim. “I’ve work with Chevy for thus a few years and I could not consider at how unimaginable the ability was in Charlotte. [I was] in a position to be taught slightly little bit of the lingo, engaged on the pit stops and the pit lane, the entire means of qualifying. It was very helpful.”
His greatest problem (in his personal phrases) come February can be across the slowest a part of the monitor — pit street. There is no such thing as a pit limiter in NASCAR like there’s in IndyCar, and drivers must carefully watch their gauges whereas navigating round one another and thru every treacherous part of the pits.
Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda on the drivers assembly
Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photos
The pit field can be an adjustment as nicely. “In IndyCar, you park as shut as doable to the wall due to the fueler. Within the Cup vehicles, you truly must be slightly bit farther so the jack man can increase the automotive so there are some methods.”
With the sim work, Talladega take a look at and ARCA race, Castroneves will not be getting in blind, however it’s going to nonetheless be lots to be taught in slightly little bit of time. “Identical to once I went to Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), I don’t know what is going on to occur,” he mentioned. However hey, he did win the 2007 season of DWTS.
Ought to Castroneves make the race and pull off the unbelievable — profitable the Daytona 500 — it will be a uncommon feat certainly. Solely two drivers have ever received each the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 — Mario Andretti who received the Daytona 500 in 1967 two years earlier than his Indy 500 triumph, and A.J. Foyt who the Daytona 500 in 1972.
Learn Additionally:
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Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Helio Castroneves
Trackhouse Racing Crew
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