Helio Castroneves has won the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge a record four times and the Rolex 24 At Daytona three times. Now he’s taking aim at another crown jewel of world motorsports.
Castroneves will make his NASCAR debut by attempting to qualify for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway (live on FOX), competing in the most prestigious and season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event with Trackhouse Racing and its PROJECT91 entry. He will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet with a Wendy’s livery as he tries to join A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti as the only drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.
“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. “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.”
Darian Grubb, a 24-time winning crew chief who won a Cup Series title with Tony Stewart in 2011, will lead the No. 91 team in Daytona.
Team owner Justin Marks created PROJECT91 in 2022 intent on expanding the organization’s global reach by fielding a Cup Series entry for renowned international racing drivers. Castroneves will join Trackhouse fulltime Cup drivers Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen.
The season-opening Daytona 500 will mark Castroneves’ first NASCAR Cup Series start and the fifth race for PROJECT91 after appearances in 2022 by 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Raikkonen at Watkins Glen International and Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and Van Gisbergen’s races in 2023 at the Chicago street race and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Van Gisbergen became the first driver since 1963 to win in his Cup debut when he won at Chicago. The victory launched his move to America and a full season in the Xfinity Series in 2024 and his move to full-time Cup racing in 2025.
Castroneves said expecting a victory in his debut might be unrealistic but knows he will have the equipment to succeed.
“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,” Castroneves said. “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.”
Marks said adding Castroneves to the PROJECT91 program is a “no-brainer.”
“I think race fans around the world will be excited to see Helio in NASCAR’s most prestigious race,” Marks said.
Castroneves is one of four drivers to have won the Indianapolis 500 four times (2001, 2002, 2009, and 2021) and was runner-up in the INDYCAR SERIES championship four times (2002, 2008, 2013, and 2014). He is a three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, consecutively in 2021 with Wayne Taylor Racing and 2022 and 2023 with Meyer Shank, in addition to the overall 2020 IMSA championship with Team Penske.
Castroneves does have experience driving cars with a roof, including 16 IROC races (2002-05) and starts in the Supercars and Brazil stock car series.