Helio Castroneves has never run a NASCAR race at any level, but he will aim to make his debut in the biggest race of them all. The Brazilian racer and four-time Indy 500 Champion will team up with Trackhouse Racing and their Project 91 program for the 67th running of 'The Great American Race' at Daytona International Speedway. However, it won't be his first race on the Daytona oval, as the 49-year-old did run some IROC races at the 2.5-mile superspeedway between 2002 and 2005.
Castroneves won't be the first Indy 500 champion to attempt the event, but it has not happened since Juan Pablo Montoya last ran it in 2013. Only two former Indy 500 winners have ever won the Daytona 500 — Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt.
Project91 is a special part-time car utilized by Trackhouse as an all-star entry in select events since 2022. It has made appearances with both Kimi Raikkonen and Shane van Gisbergen, including a victory in the 2023 Chicago Street Course race with SVG. However, the car did not make any starts during the 2024 season. Castroneves will be sponsored by Wendy's in his Daytona 500 effort, which first partnered with Trackhouse early last year. Veteran crew chief Darian Grubb will lead the effort from atop the pit box. Grubb won the 2006 Daytona 500 as a crew chief for the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports entry with Jimmie Johnson.
“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,” said Castroneves. “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, (Trackhouse owner) Justin Marks and everyone that made this happen. I wish the race were tomorrow!”
Castroneves will be among several open entries in the 500 where unchartered cars will have to race their way into the event via the Duel races. The open field is setting up to be one of the biggest in recent 500 history and is expected to include former Cup champions Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. 36 cars are locked into the field via charters, but the final four spots in the 40-car grid will be filled by open entries. Among those who are also confirmed to attempt this year's Daytona 500 are Mike Wallace, J.J. Yeley and B.J. McLeod.
Castroneves will be part of a four-car effort for Trackhouse, which will represent four different countries in the season-opening event. The Indy 500 champion will compete alongside teammates Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and van Gisbergen.
