“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enter a NASCAR race and certainly not the Daytona 500.” Those were the words of four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves as he prepared for his NASCAR Cup Series debut. The Brazilian racing legend secured a spot in the Daytona 500 through Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 initiative and the Open Exemption Rule. This allows ‘world-class’ drivers a direct entry to the race without qualifying.
While Castroneves prepares for the Great American Race, another IndyCar legend is looking to follow in his footsteps. Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon has hinted at a possible Daytona 500 appearance with a five-word admission. Ahead of the 67th running of the Daytona 500, Dixon made a surprising revelation while rooting for NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson.
Daytona 500 attracts another IndyCar star!
Scott Dixon is no stranger to success. The six-time IndyCar champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner has dominated open-wheel racing for over two decades. However, despite his impressive resume, he has never raced in NASCAR. This might change soon as Dixon revealed his plans. While speaking with Frontstrech revealed his interest in NASCAR’s biggest race.
“There’s always a chance… Jimmie [Johnson] and I were actually talking about it this morning. Obviously, there’s lots of things you have to work out, but we’ll try to figure something out. Dixon told Frontstretch. Dixon shares a great relationship with Legacy Motor Club owner Jimmie Johnson as the duo were teammates in the 2022 NTT IndyCar series. Speaking of his emotions being back at the track, Dixon added, “I’m excited to be back here and cheering on Jimmie and a few other friends I’ve got here. It’s been about 10 years since I’ve last been here, since the last time, I’ve been to the [Daytona] 500,”
Dixon’s comment comes at a time when the OEP (Open Exemption Provisional) rule is gaining attention. The new rule allows ‘a world-class driver’ to bypass qualifying to start a race. IndyCar champion Helio Castroneves secured a guaranteed spot in the Daytona 500 despite struggling in qualifying and crashing in the Duels. If Dixon ever decides to make the jump to NASCAR, the OEP rule could be his best path to entry.
“We’ll try and figure something out” – @scottdixon9 eyeballing Daytona 500 entry. #IndyCar #NASCAR
@PitLaneCPT pic.twitter.com/Z7JeCQdnk1
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) February 15, 2025
Notably, Dixon surely fulfills OEP’s rules. With 56 career IndyCar wins, Dixon is the most successful active driver in the series. Despite never racing in NASCAR, his experience at Daytona isn’t entirely nonexistent. He competed in the 2004 International Race of Champions (IROC) at the superspeedway, finishing eighth. Dixon has also attended multiple Rolex 24 events. With NASCAR’s push for global appeal, a driver of Dixon’s stature would be a perfect fit.
While Dixon considers his options, Helio Castroneves has already taken the step. The 49-year-old Brazilian joined Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 for the 2025 Daytona 500. However, his speedweeks have been anything but smooth. During the Duel 1 qualifying race, Castroneves was caught in a multi-car crash. While his car wasn’t destroyed, he made things worse by trying to bring it back to pit road.
Castroneves once again crashed in pit lane and failed to make a comeback on track. His struggles forced him to utilize the OEP rule for the iconic event. However, everything was not bad for the Brazilian superstar. A day before the Daytona 500 race, he made a blistering debut in ARCA.
Helio Castroneves’s wild ARCA finish gives hope!
Helio Castroneves’ first stock car experience didn’t come in the NASCAR Cup Series but in ARCA, where he faced one of the most chaotic races of the weekend. From the green flag to the checkered, the Brazilian found himself dodging wrecks, getting caught in crashes, and somehow still finishing inside the top five. On lap five, a multi-car wreck forced Castroneves to drive through the infield grass to avoid disaster.
While his car suffered minor damage, he remained in contention. As the race continued, the 49-year-old driver found himself in the middle of multiple incidents. At one point, he got turned sideways and tapped the outside wall, only to slide through the grass once again. Despite the chaos, Castroneves battled back and climbed to second place in the final laps. He played a key role in helping his teammate Brenden Queen take the lead.
Speaking on his experience, Castroneves said, “Well, it was a great job from everybody… I started understanding a little bit of what’s going on.” His push to Brendan ‘Butterbean’ Queen at the end is what helped the latter seal the win. He added, “I can feel it. He was slowing down, and I hit sort of the right spot. He was doing an amazing job so obviously he knows what’s going on. Super happy for him.”
On the last lap, Castroneves dropped back but still secured a top-five finish. However, just when he thought the madness was over, the cool-down lap proved otherwise. As he coasted back to pit road, he crashed with Kole Raz. The veteran driver could only laugh as he climbed out of his battered Wendy’s No. 82 machine. “I think my guy, the guy behind me, didn’t know the race was over, so he kept pushing me. That’s why I ended up in a wreck,” Castroneves joked. Now, he shifts his focus to the Great American Race where he will start from 41st place.
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