Castroneves Daytona 500 Debut Ends with Multi-Car Crash

By David Morgan, Associate Editor

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Helio Castroneves rollercoaster week making his NASCAR debut in the Daytona 500 came to a crashing halt just 70 laps into Sunday’s 67^th running of the Great American Race

The four-time Indianapolis 500 champion rolled into the World Center of Racing looking to make the most of the Speedweeks experience and certainly got his fill during all of his travails behind the wheel.

Driving the No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, he would have to fall back on the Open Exemption Provisional to make the field for Sunday’s race after getting caught up in a crash during his Duel race.

Two days later, he dipped his toes into the world of the ARCA Menards Series in an effort to get more seat time in a stock car before Sunday’s main event.

During the ARCA race he would come home with a top-five finish despite being involved in three separate crashes, none of his own making, including getting dumped by a fellow competitor after the checkered flag flew.

Castroneves took it all in stride before turning his attention to Sunday’s race, where he would roll off from shotgun on the field.

Lap by lap, he found his bearings and was holding his own among the rest of the Cup Series regulars, but just after the start of Stage 2, things would take a turn for the worst.

Running mid-pack, Castroneves would get swept up in an accordion-style crash after Joey Logano stumbled on the restart and Castroneves’ Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain got turned and collected him in the process.

The damage would be too much for Castroneves to continue on and his day was done before the race had even reached the halfway mark.

Issues for the No. 22 on the restart cause a chain reaction further back in the pack. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/rn7lRfovmw

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 17, 2025

Even though he was disappointed to find an early exit, Castroneves was upbeat about the experience he had in stock cars and noted that he would have liked to have been able to learn more as the race continued to progress.

“I tried stopping it and Martin Truex Jr. came really hard and hit me, but I don’t think that was the issue. I think the issue was that I guess someone on the bottom hit me from the side and it broke the axle,” Castroneves explained.

“Disappointed, of course. I was learning so much. It’s incredible when you have more laps in it and how you understand the air flow and what the guys are doing, like saving fuel. There were some sketchy moments, but what a shame.

“I wish I was still out there because there’s still more to understand and more to learn. I was starting to get a little more comfortable with the whole process, but it is what it is.”

He added his appreciation for getting the full Daytona experience and now turns his attention back to the NTT IndyCar Series and the 108^th Indianapolis 500 in May, where he will be aiming for yet another victory.

“I just have to thank NASCAR, as well, to be able to put together this type of a show. Now let’s go for the Indianapolis 500!”