“This field is stacked”: Fans react with 4x Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves all set to run the Daytona 500

The announcement of Helio Castroneves' Daytona 500 debut received a rousing response from fans on social media. Trackhouse Racing announced on Monday (Dec. 6), that the four-time Indy 500 winner will drive their Project91 car at the 'Great American Race' in February.

Castroneves, who is only one of four drivers to have won the Indy 500 four times, had been trying for nearly three years to secure a Daytona 500 drive. When he finally landed it this year with Wendy's as his sponsor, he said via 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. 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 Racing launched Project91 in 2022 to bring international drivers to race in the NASCAR Cup Series. When the official X page of the program announced Helio Castroneves' Daytona 500 participation, fans went into a frenzy.

A fan page of Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs reacted, writing:

"This field is stacked."

Other fans excitedly joined the online celebrations for Castroneves' NASCAR debut. Here are some of the reactions:

"The Daytona duel races are shaping up to be a generational show," wrote one fan.

Another fan also referred to the Brazilian driver's trademark celebration of scaling the catch fences at IndyCar circuits after winning a race, adding:

"Catchfence climb at the Daytona 500 coming soon???"

"This is racing gold. Win or lose a race is always better with @h3lio in the race," wrote another fan.

"This may get me to watch a NASCAR race!" another added cheekily.

The official page of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also reacted, writing:

"We are SO PUMPED for this!"

Though the announcement has delighted fans, Helio Castroneves still has to qualify for the race. The qualifying session will take place on February 13 at the Bluegreen Vacations Duel to decide the 40-car field for the Daytona 500 on February 16. Chartered teams have already booked 36 spots and only four are up for grabs.

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Helio Castroneves embraces the Daytona 500 "challenge" with Trackhouse Racing

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Helio Castroneves' debut at the Daytona 500 will mark the fifth race for Trackhouse Racing's Project91. Darian Grubb, who boasts championship-winning experience with Tony Stewart in 2011, will lead the Brazilian driver's No. 91 entry.

Though Castroneves has experience winning a race in a new category on debut, like his 2022 SRX victory in Pensacola, Florida, he is aware of the bigger challenge that the Daytona 500 presents. In the official press release by Trackhouse Racing, he said:

"I know how much of a challenge this is going to be, but I also know the type of people and team Trackhouse Racing will bring to the effort. I can’t wait to get to the Trackhouse race shop in North Carolina to meet everyone and prepare for Daytona. There is so much I must learn and I’m ready to get started."

Helio Castroneves has experience racing on the road course at the Daytona International Speedway. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona thrice consecutively from 2021 to 2023. If he indeed wins the 'Great American Race' on debut, he will become only the third driver after AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti to have won the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500.

In 2024, the 49-year-old raced in three IndyCar races for Meyer Shank Racing, a team he co-owns.