NASCAR team owner sends strong message about Helio Castroneves’ debut in Daytona 500

Helio Castroneves is all set to make his highly anticipated debut at the 2025 Daytona 500 in February. The four-time Indy 500 winner will drive for Trackhouse Racing's Project91 with Wendy's as his main sponsor. Fans have already boarded the hype train and the countdown to the 'Great American Race' has begun.

Justin Marks, the owner of NASCAR's Trackhouse Racing, who created Project91 in 2022 to field international racers in the NASCAR Cup Series, was thrilled to see it succeed with Castroneves trusting their vision. In an official press release by the team, Marks said:

"Hélio is one of the greatest drivers of all time and exactly the type of driver we want to bring to NASCAR. I think race fans around the world will be excited to see Hélio in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. It also exposes our sport to a global audience and allows them to see just how great of a series we have in NASCAR."

Though Castroneves has never won an IndyCar championship in a career spanning over two decades, he is only one of four drivers, including Rick Mears, AJ Foyt and Al Unser Sr to win the iconic Indy 500 a record four times.

The Brazilian driver will take part in the qualifying session at the Bluegreen Vacations Duel on February 13 to secure one of four open spots for the Daytona 500 on February 16. Chartered teams have already secured 36 out of 40 spots.

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Ross Chastain expresses his eagerness to race

alongside Helio Castroneves at the Daytona 500

NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 - Qualifying - Source: Getty

Helio Castroneves is one of the most loved IndyCar drivers. Moreover, his versatility is off the charts. The 49-year-old has raced in three seasons of the SRX, four seasons of the International Race of Champions, won the 24 Hours of Daytona thrice, and taken the 2020 IMSA championship in the DPi class.

At the Daytona 500, he will race alongside teammates Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez and Shane van Gisbersen. All four drivers will represent different countries - Brazil, the USA, Mexico and New Zealand respectively.

After Trackhouse Racing announced the signing of Helio Castroneves, five-time Cup Series race winner Chastain took to X to express his excitement to have a legend of the sport racing alongside him. He wrote:

"Can't wait to be teammates with @h3lio for the 500!"

Chastain drives the No. 1 Chevrolet for Trackhouse and will have Castroneves in the No. 91 Chevy with him. The season-opening Daytona 500 will mark the Brazilian driver's NASCAR debut, which he expects to be challenging.

Castroneves' last full-time IndyCar season was a subpar one with Meyer Shank Racing in 2023 that finished with him securing 18th-place in the standings. His last IndyCar win came at the 2021 Indy 500 with the same team he now co-owns.