Helio Castroneves to attempt Daytona 500 in Trackhouse’s Project 91

Helio Castroneves is set to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the 2025 Daytona 500, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91. The team announced the news Monday, marking a major milestone in Castroneves’ decorated career.

A four-time Indianapolis 500 champion and three-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, the 49-year-old Brazilian has a storied history in motorsports. He boasts 25 wins in the NTT IndyCar Series, six in the former Champ Car Series, and 10 victories in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, including multiple wins in recent seasons. Castroneves has also dabbled in stock cars, competing in 16 IROC races from 2002 to 2005, with a best finish of second at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enter a NASCAR race, especially the Daytona 500 with a team like Trackhouse Racing,” Castroneves said. “This is an opportunity nobody could ever turn down. I wish the race were tomorrow.”

Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 initiative aims to bring international racing stars to NASCAR’s top level. Launched in 2022 alongside the introduction of NASCAR’s “Next Gen” chassis, the program has previously featured renowned drivers like 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen and three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. Van Gisbergen notably won the 2023 Chicago Street Race in his NASCAR debut and will compete full-time in the Cup Series for Trackhouse in 2025.

Team owner Justin Marks expressed his excitement about Castroneves’ participation, saying, “Helio is one of the greatest drivers of all time and exactly the type of driver we want to bring to NASCAR. This gives fans around the world a chance to see just how great our series is.”

Castroneves’ entry into the “Great American Race” has been years in the making. Marks first targeted him for the 2023 Daytona 500, but the plan materialized for 2025. Castroneves will hit the track for the first time in a NASCAR stock car during practice on Wednesday, Feb. 12, ahead of the race scheduled for Feb. 16.