Helio Castroneves: 'We Will Learn More For The Race"

Yesterday at 01:12 PM

By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer

A critical moment in Helio Castroneves’ debut with Trackhouse Racing, debut Daytona 500 and NASCAR Cup Series debut came to a sudden stop Thursday night.

A part of a multi-car crash on lap 14 of the Duel No. 1, Castroneves’ No. 91 pierced the outside wall and came to a rest in the infield of Daytona International Speedway’s third turn.

The four-time Indianapolis 500 champion was disgruntled at the moment, smacking his steering wheel before climbing out. Along with the car, his warm-up time took a hefty hit.

“It's disappointing because the No. 91 Wendy's Chevy was really good,” Castroneves said. “I got hit and ended up hitting the wall in Turn 2 pretty hard and broke a toe link.”

Attempting to drive the car back to pit road, the toe link sent Castroneves back into the wall a second time in Turn 3.

“I should have actually just brought it in slower,” he said. “We went really fast trying to fix the car, and then obviously when I hit the banking, the car just snapped to the right.”

Trackhouse will not supply the No. 91 with a back-up machine, having only two for the weekend. Multiple Trackhouse cars crashed in their respective Duels, opting the No. 91 to repair the front clip.

Castroneves will take the Open Exemption Provisional to start the race.

“The boys on the PROJECT91 team did an amazing job. They have a little bit of work to do, unfortunately,” he said. “It wasn't the night that we wanted, but we'll take the provisional. So many people have been talking about it, but we will take it and we will learn more for the race."

So far this Speedweek, the Brazilian has turned 27 laps across practice, qualifying and the Duel. With two practice sessions yet to run before Sunday, Castroneves has much to learn.

“There are so many little things that people don't realize behind the TV and even the grandstands,” he said. “There's so much going on. It's actually incredible. The way the package is, it's impressive.

“There was a lot to learn no question about it. There was a lot of movement in the car, a lot of air flow and a lot of brake-checking that you need to be aware of. But as long as you hold steady, it's pretty good. I wish we could have kept it going.”