Report: Indy 500 legend Helio Castroneves to attempt 2025 Daytona 500 with Trackhouse Project 91

There have been rumors circulating and now we have more concrete evidence. Helio Castroneves will attempt the 2025 Daytona 500. A four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Castroneves will attempt to enter rare air with his Daytona race.

There is no doubt that Helio Castroneves is one of the best race car drivers ever. You don’t win four Indy 500s over the course of multiple decades without being an elite driver.

Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic has confirmed with his sources that Castroneves will enter The Great American Race. He will most likely race for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91. That team has not raced since 2023 with Shane van Gisbergen.

NEWS: Four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves to make his NASCAR debut in next month's Daytona 500, driving a car fielded by Trackhouse Racing, sources tell @TheAthletic. https://t.co/feRprmm7eB

— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) January 6, 2025

Helio Castroneves is a legend. The Brazilian wheelman has more than earned his reputation as one of the best open-wheel racers of all-time. While never becoming an IndyCar champion, his four Indy 500s and four runner-up finishes in the season points standings more than make up for it.

2001, 2002, 2009, and 2021. Castroneves’ first win ever in IndyCar was the Indy 500 and his final win, right now, is the Indy 500. While he will be on the oval at Daytona, he is also a three-time 24 Hours of Daytona champion.

2021, 2022, and 2023 all ended in victory lane. In 2020, Castroneves captured the season championship with Team Penske. So, Daytona has been more than kind to the racer.

Helio Castroneves will try to join AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti as the only racers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. And why couldn’t he?

Trackhouse bringing Helio Castroneves to Daytona

Of course, we must thank Trackhouse Racing for making this happen. The vision that Justin Marks and his ownership group have is next to none in the sport. They are pushing the boundaries in marketing, with drivers, and the style of racing each of those drivers has.

Project 91 is made for this kind of thing. It is there to put the most talented drivers outside of NASCAR into the Cup Series in a car that, ideally, will be competitive. Kimi Raikkonen has given it a try and the most famous example, Shane van Gisbergen turned his two starts in 2023 into a full-time Cup ride for 2025.

If NASCAR wants to become more of a global sport, they need to tap Justin Marks for that. He is set to have four drivers representing four different countries at the Daytona 500. When is the last time, if ever, that has happened?

America, Mexico, New Zealand, and Brazil will all be represented. Of course, NASCAR has a series in America, Mexico, and Brazil, adding to the excitement for international fans. This will likely push the entry list for the Daytona 500 to around 45 cars. It should be the most entertaining qualifying and Duels races that we have seen in years.