Source link : https://motorsports-news.org/2025/01/08/nascar/helio-castroneves-largest-problem-forward-of-his-daytona-500-try/
Helio Castroneves, at 49 years previous, stays a charismatic persona and energetic driver full with a outstanding resume — profitable the Indianapolis 500 4 occasions and incomes three consecutive general victories within the Rolex 24. However the problem ‘Spider Man’ is about tackle subsequent month at Daytona, is one thing fully new, by no means having pushed a NASCAR inventory automobile at any degree, and his solely expertise on Daytona’s oval-only format was 20 years in the past whereas racing IROC.
The concept to run NASCAR’s largest race fashioned just a little extra just lately, and gained momentum whereas Castroneves was competing within the Famous person Racing Expertise. Sequence CEO Don Hawk promised to assist the open-wheel legend safe a trip for the Daytona 500 ought to he win an SRX race — which Castroneves did in 2022 at 5 Flags Speedway. The Brazilian driver shared that from that time onward, the concept started ‘snowballing,’ resulting in a reference to Trackhouse Racing crew proprietor Justin Marks, recognized for its NASCAR Undertaking 91 program that has been used as a launching pad into the inventory automobile sequence for world motorsports stars Kimi Raikkonen and Shane van Gisbergen.
It is a ‘no’ from the Captain
“Final 12 months we could not do it,” stated Castroneves in a Tuesday media convention, however now, all of the items are lastly in place for a respectable effort. The four-time Indy 500 winner has wished to tackle NASCAR for some time, nevertheless it was by no means potential — even whereas driving for Crew Penske (in IndyCar).
“It is one thing that I used to be fascinated by. I at all times wished to do it. Once I used to race with Penske, I requested about it, however Roger [Penske] by no means allowed me to. However now, lastly! You gotta hold pushing. You gotta hold believing someday that dream will come true and right here we go.”
Whereas the seasoned driver has zero NASCAR expertise, he does have the expertise of a handful of IROC races on the 2.5-mile superspeedway from the early 2000s. Any little bit of that have may be useful as Castroneves, as an open entry, races his means into the 40-car area through the Duel races on February 15. And it is not a straightforward feat, even for essentially the most seasoned of drivers. Final 12 months, seven-time NASCAR Cup champ and two-time Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson practically missed the five hundred earlier than a last-lap stack-up saved him. “Will probably be a problem,” admitted Castroneves. “No query about that. It is a massive oval. It is a robust oval. Plenty of fearless rivals, however I’ve an awesome group behind me.”
Trackhouse is specifically suited to bringing in drivers with restricted to no expertise. The aim of its Undertaking 91 program is to create and foster a path for star drivers from numerous disciplines to get a run within the inventory automobile sequence — usually those that would not get the prospect in any other case. “They did this earlier than the place individuals had no expertise in any respect and so they perceive,” continued Castroneves. “They’re guiding me. They’re doing every little thing they’ll.”
Making preparations and the most important problem
Preparation for NASCAR’s massive race contains simulator work, a shakedown take a look at at Talladega, and as revealed on Wednesday, a begin within the ARCA season-opener at Daytona. SVG adopted the same path forward of the 2024 NASCAR season as he realized superspeedway racing.
“Superb facility with Chevy,” Castroneves stated on his expertise within the producer’s NASCAR’s sim. “I’ve work with Chevy for thus a few years and I could not consider at how unimaginable the ability was in Charlotte. [I was] capable of study just a little little bit of the lingo, engaged on the pit stops and the pit lane, the entire strategy of qualifying. It was very helpful.”
His largest problem (in his personal phrases) come February shall be across the slowest a part of the observe — pit street. There isn’t any pit limiter in NASCAR like there’s in IndyCar, and drivers should carefully watch their gauges whereas navigating round one another and thru every treacherous part of the pits.
Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda on the drivers assembly
Picture by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photographs
The pit field shall be an adjustment as properly. “In IndyCar, you park as shut as potential to the wall due to the fueler. Within the Cup vehicles, you really should be just a little bit farther so the jack man can elevate the automobile so there are some methods.”
With the sim work, Talladega take a look at and ARCA race, Castroneves will not be entering into blind, however it’s going to nonetheless be so much to study in just a little little bit of time. “Similar to after I went to Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), I do not know what is going on to occur,” he stated. However hey, he did win the 2007 season of DWTS.
Ought to Castroneves make the race and pull off the unbelievable — profitable the Daytona 500 — it could be a uncommon feat certainly. Solely two drivers have ever received each the Indy 500 and Daytona 500 — Mario Andretti who received the Daytona 500 in 1967 two years earlier than his Indy 500 triumph, and A.J. Foyt who the Daytona 500 in 1972.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Helio Castroneves
Trackhouse Racing Crew
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
Author : Motorsports
Publish date : 2025-01-08 21:55:19
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.