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NASCAR: Indy 500 winner Castroneves eyes Daytona 500 (2nd Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

Four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves says he hasn’t given up on his dream of racing in NASCAR’s Daytona 500 – but is still waiting to hear if he’ll get a shot next year.

With 76 days until the Daytona 500, Castroneves remains in the dark if he’ll get his hoped-for shot at ‘The Great American Race’.

“I’m working on it,” he told Motorsport.com. “I know lately there have been rumors, even my team owner Mike [Shank] has been asking me what’s going on? Don Hawk, we had a bet, and I’m sure he’s probably stirring the pot to try and make it happen.

“Hopefully in the next two weeks we will hear something, but as of right now, I’ve called people that I hear are interested but nobody is getting back to me. So I guess I’ll wait for the right time for them to call!

When asked if he’d be interested in racing for Trackhouse’s Project 91 – which is aimed at thrusting overseas drivers into stock car racing’s premier class – Castroneves said he’d like to follow in the footsteps of Kimi Raikkonen, who raced its car at Watkins Glen last year.  Motorsport

December 1, 2022 

Marks spoke about that idea during the 3rd Annual Race Industry Week sponsored by EPartrade, Racer and Speed Sport which began Monday morning and concludes Friday evening.

Marks is the owner of Trackhouse, which also features Project91 designed to bring a driver with international acclaim into NASCAR. According to Trackhouse, Project91 is “designed to push the guardrails and expand our international reach.”

Justin Marks

“The idea of Project91 started because I was watching a Formula One race and thought, ‘You know what would be awesome? If Lewis Hamilton drove in the Daytona 500,’” Marks recalled. “It’s our biggest race and the biggest stars in global motorsports in our biggest race is something we should pursue.

“AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti raced in the Daytona 500. It’s attractive because it’s a crown jewel event.”

But it won’t happen unless someone writes a big check and soon.

“The Daytona 500 is a difficult race to run a third car, especially how new our team is,” Marks said. “I don’t see us rolling out a third car for the 2023 Daytona 500. To add that element to all the work we have to do as a company in January and the first part of February, introducing that element in our ramp up to the season is not something I’m ready to do yet [unless someone writes a big check and soon].

“But drivers like Helio, those are the guys we want in Project91, so those discussions are ongoing.”

November 22, 2022 

Adam Stern from Sports Business Journal reports that a deal is getting closer for Hélio Castroneves to compete in next year’s Daytona 500.

Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 program and The Money Team Racing’s No. 50 Chevrolet are viable options for Castroneves, should he attempt to qualify for the Great American Race.