Since winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 in 2021, Helio Castroneves has expressed his desire to compete in the biggest race in NASCAR Cup Series racing – the Daytona 500.
On Monday, January 6, Castroneves got his wish, thanks to NASCAR Cup Series team owner Justin Marks and his Project91 team at Trackhouse Racing.
He will drive the No. 91 Wendy’s Chevrolet.
Castroneves Is one of only five drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 in back-to-back years when he won in 2001 and 2002. Since then, Josef Newgarden has become the sixth driver to win the Indy 500 back-to-back with his victories in 2023 and 2024.
Castroneves became a three-time winner in 2009 and finally reached the four-time Indy 500 winner level with a dramatic victory over Alex Palou in 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 four times in their career.
Justin Marks
Project91 was created by Marks to give top international drivers a chance to compete in NASCAR including Australian Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen, who won the Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race on July 2, 2023. It was the first time a driver drove to victory in his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race since Johnny Rutherford won at Daytona in 1963.
The first Project91 driver was Kimi Raikkonen, competing at Watkins Glen in 2022 and Circuit of the Americas in ’23.
Castroneves is currently an ownership partner at Meyer Shank Racing in IndyCar and will compete in the 2025 Indianapolis 500 as he attempts to become the first five-time winner in the history of the famed race.
The No. 91 Chevrolet will carry the Wendy’s livery during the 2025 Speedweeks as he seeks to join Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt as the only drivers to win the both Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 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,” said Castroneves.
“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 and Justin Marks and everyone that made this happen. I wish the race were tomorrow!”
[Story excerpted from a Bruce Martin article in SpeedSport News.]
