Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves is set to make his NASCAR debut as he attempts to qualify for the Feb. 15 Daytona 500 for Trackhouse Racing.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enter a NASCAR race and certainly not the Daytona 500 with a team like Trackhouse Racing,” Castroneves said in a statement Monday. “This is an opportunity that nobody in their right mind could ever turn down. I am so thankful to Wendy’s for allowing me to wear their uniform and drive their car.”
A longtime open-wheel competitor, the 49-year-old Castroneves won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021. He has familiarity with the Daytona International Speedway, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona from 2021-23 on the circuit’s road course.
Trackhouse Racing has three full-time Cup Series teams and Castroneves will drive its No. 91 car dubbed “Project 91.” Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen drove the No. 91 car to a victory on the Chicago street course in 2023 in his NASCAR debut.
Darian Grubb, who won a NASCAR title as Tony Stewart’s crew chief in 2011 and has 24 career victories in the role, will be Castroneves’ crew chief.
Castroneves, who ran only three races in a transition to an ownership role last year, still has to earn his spot in the Daytona 500 field during qualifying. While 36 spots are accounted for by full-time and charter teams, additional spots are available in qualifying. A total of 42 cars qualified for the 2024 Daytona 500 field.
Castroneves is one of four drivers to win the Indy 500 four times, with A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr. also accomplishing the feat.
Only Foyt and Mario Andretti have won both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500.
–Field Level Media
