MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Since profitable his fourth Indianapolis 500 in 2021, Helio Castroneves has expressed his want to compete within the largest race in NASCAR Cup Collection racing – the Daytona 500.
On Monday, January 6, Castroneves acquired his want, due to NASCAR Cup Collection group proprietor Justin Marks and his Project91 group at Trackhouse Racing.
He’ll drive the No. 91 Wendy’s Chevrolet.
Castroneves was certainly one of solely 5 drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 in back-to-back years when he gained in 2001 and 2002. Since then, Josef Newgarden has grow to be the sixth driver to win the Indy 500 back-to-back along with his victories in 2023 and 2024.
Castroneves grew to become a three-time winner in 2009 and eventually reached the four-time Indy 500 winner degree with a dramatic victory over Alex Palou within the 2021. Castroneves joined racing legends A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977), the late Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978 and 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988 and 1991) to win the Indianapolis 500 4 occasions of their profession.
Project91 was created by Marks to offer high worldwide drivers an opportunity to compete in NASCAR together with Australian Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen, who gained the Grant Park 220 Chicago Road Race on July 2, 2023. It was the primary time a driver drove to victory in his first-ever NASCAR Cup Collection race since Johnny Rutherford gained at Daytona in 1963.
The Project91 win catapulted the New Zealand native to a profession in NASCAR as he turns into a full-time NASCAR Cup Collection rookie in 2025.
Castroneves is at the moment an possession associate at Meyer Shank Racing in IndyCar and can compete within the 2025 Indianapolis 500 as he makes an attempt to grow to be the primary five-time winner within the historical past of the famed race.
The No. 91 Chevrolet will carry the Wendy’s livery through the 2025 Speedweeks as he seeks to hitch Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt as the one drivers to win the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500.
“By no means in my wildest goals did I believe I might enter a NASCAR race and positively not the Daytona 500 with a group like Trackhouse Racing,” mentioned Castroneves.
“This is a chance that no one of their proper thoughts may ever flip down. I’m so grateful to Wendy’s for permitting me to put on their uniform and drive their automotive, (Trackhouse proprietor) Justin Marks and everybody that made this occur. I want the race have been tomorrow!”
Marks created Project91 in 2022 intent on increasing the group’s international attain by fielding a Cup Collection entry for famend worldwide racing drivers. Castroneves will be part of Trackhouse full-time Cup drivers Daniel Suárez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen.
The season-opening Daytona 500 will mark Castroneves’ first NASCAR Cup Collection begin and the fifth race for Project91 after appearances by 2007 System One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l and Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2022 in addition to Van Gisbergen’s races on the Chicago Road Race and the Indianapolis Highway Course in 2023.
Castroneves mentioned anticipating a victory in his debut is likely to be unrealistic however is aware of he can have the tools to succeed.
“I understand how a lot of a problem that is going to be, however I additionally know the kind of folks and group Trackhouse Racing will carry to the hassle,” mentioned Castroneves. “I can’t wait to get to the Trackhouse race store in North Carolina to fulfill everybody and put together for Daytona. There’s a lot I have to study and I’m able to get began.”
Darian Grubb, a 24-time profitable crew chief who gained a Cup Collection title with Tony Stewart in 2011, will lead the No. 91 group in Daytona.
Marks mentioned including Castroneves to Project91 was an apparent selection.
“Hélio is likely one of the biggest drivers of all time and precisely the kind of driver we need to carry to NASCAR,” mentioned Marks.
“I believe race followers world wide can be excited to see Hélio in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. It additionally exposes our sport to a world viewers and permits them to see simply how nice of a collection we’ve in NASCAR.”
Castroneves is certainly one of 4 drivers to have gained the Indianapolis 500 4 occasions (2001, 2002, 2009, and 2021) and was runner-up within the IndyCar Collection drivers’ championship 4 occasions (2002, 2008, 2013, and 2014). He’s a three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, consecutively in 2021 with Wayne Taylor Racing and 2022 and 2023 with Meyer Shank, along with the general 2020 IMSA championship with Crew Penske.
Castroneves does have expertise driving vehicles with a roof together with 16 IROC races (2002-2005) and begins within the Supercars and Brazil inventory automotive collection.
