Four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves completed his first NASCAR Cup Series laps at Daytona International Speedway, marking a significant milestone in his racing career transition.

During Wednesday's 50-minute practice session, Castroneves piloted his No. 91 Chevrolet to the 12th fastest overall position, recording a speed of 183.460 mph across 13 laps. The session provided valuable preparation time for single-car qualifying.

"I think the camera cannot see the smile behind my helmet, but it was so cool," Castroneves remarked, noting the distinct differences between IndyCar and NASCAR vehicles. He highlighted the stock car's power steering and different handling characteristics compared to his familiar IndyCar experience.

To prepare for his Cup Series debut, Castroneves has:

• Participated in ARCA Menards Series testing at Daytona
• Practiced at Talladega Superspeedway, focusing on pit road procedures
• Consulted with experienced drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, and Ryan Blaney

Castroneves is guaranteed a starting position in Sunday's race through Trackhouse Racing's Open Exemption Provisional. Despite this security, he plans to actively participate in all qualifying events, including Wednesday night's qualifying lap and Thursday's duel races.

"I need practice," Castroneves emphasized. "Every moment that I jump in the car, I will learn something. It's a different beast, it's an amazing car, it's completely different rules, and I think the competition is different from what I'm used to."

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