5 drivers best suited for a NASCAR-IndyCar crossover

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Helio Castroneves, Indy 500, Meyer Shank Racing, IndyCar (Photo by JEFF DEAN/AFP via Getty Images) /

NASCAR/IndyCar crossover candidates: No. 5 – Helio Castroneves

Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves has proven his capabilities on oval tracks, and not just Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Outside of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Castroneves has also won at Richmond Raceway, Phoenix Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Nazareth Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, and Iowa Speedway.

With NASCAR presently racing at several of these tracks, Castroneves could have a great opportunity to showcase his skillset in the Cup Series as well.

Additionally, Castroneves has shown interest in competing in the Daytona 500 in recent years. While he was unable to compete in the race this year after failing to land a deal, there remains a strong possibility that he could find one in 2024 and make his NASCAR debut.

The Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place before the IndyCar season begins, so Castroneves wouldn’t have to miss any IndyCar events, even if he is still competing full-time for Meyer Shank Racing next year.

In both NASCAR and IndyCar, it is becoming easier and easier to find a ride for a one-off race. In NASCAR, Trackhouse Racing Team’s PROJECT91 has allowed several drivers, including Kimi Raikkonen, to compete in a race or two in the Cup Series. 23XI Racing have also run a third car, with Travis Pastrana having competed in it and Kamui Kobayashi set to do so in the near future.