NASCAR: Daytona 500 landing spot confirmed for four-time Indy 500 winner
For quite some time, four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves has expressed his ambition to race in the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. It looks like he might finally get the opportunity to do so, potentially kicking off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
It has been officially announced that Trackhouse Racing will be Castroneves’ new team, with the 67th running of the Daytona 500, known as the “Great American Race,” happening in just under a month and a half.
In previous years, the team co-owned by Justin Marks and Pitbull was considered a possible destination for the 49-year-old Brazilian. However, they decided against joining the 200-lap race on the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Daytona Beach, Florida oval track, choosing not to field a third entry for the event.
But the match makes too much sense.
2022 saw the introduction of Trackhouse Racing’s project named PROJECT91, offering a unique opportunity for globally recognized racing drivers to participate in chosen Cup Series events.
In 2024, Project 91 was not involved in the team’s activities, but its impact was significant as it helped secure Shane van Gisbergen as a full-time driver for the following year. During the first Chicago Street Race in 2023, van Gisbergen made history by becoming the first driver to win on Cup Series debut since 1963. Remarkably, he achieved this milestone with Project 91’s support.
In 2025, Van Gisbergen will pilot a third car, the #88 Chevrolet, for Trackhouse Racing, as they’ve bought a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Meanwhile, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez will continue driving the #1 and #99 Chevrolets respectively.
Even though teams initially permitted only four chartered entries have been limited to three, it’s important to note that these three-car teams can still add an additional non-chartered (open) entry. This implies that Helio Castroneves must qualify for the race, as his No. 91 Chevrolet being on the entry list does not automatically secure him a spot in the event.
In every Cup Series race, a maximum of 40 vehicles can participate. Among these, 36 positions are reserved for chartered cars. Up to 10 additional teams might be competing for the remaining open slots. With Castroneves’ entry being made official, four spots have been confirmed so far.
The quickest racers during the individual time trials will automatically secure their positions, while two more drivers will do so based on their performance in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel. If a driver manages to qualify both ways, then the swiftest car (or cars) from the time trial session would claim the remaining spot (or spots).
The one-car qualifying for the 67th Daytona 500, America’s most renowned NASCAR race, is set for Wednesday, February 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Following this, two Bluegreen Vacations Duel races will occur on Thursday, February 13 (at 7:00 p.m. ET, broadcast on Fox). Lastly, the main event, known as “The Great American Race,” is slated for Sunday, February 16 (starting at 2:30 p.m. ET, also on Fox).
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2025-01-07 16:02