Hélio Castroneves hopes to soften Daytona learning curve during ARCA Menards Series opener

If there is one thing that Hélio Castroneves needs before he makes his Daytona 500 debut this Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, it’s laps.

That’s a big reason why the four-time Indianapolis 500 champion is entered in Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series Ride the ‘Dente 200 (12 p.m. ET on FOX), the opening event of ARCA’s 73rd season of racing.

“Since the main focus is Cup and the Daytona 500, obviously I need experience and there is nothing like ARCA (that can) provide this to me,” said Castroneves, who will drive the No. 82 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet as a teammate to Brenden Queen Saturday. “There are not only great cars, but also some experienced and like me, rookies, learning like me the same way.”

Castroneves is without question the most experienced and decorated driver in Saturday’s ARCA opener. His four Indianapolis 500 triumphs put him in rarified air alongside legendary drivers A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears as the only drivers to accomplish the feat.

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As if that wasn’t enough, Castroneves has won more than 20 Indy car events during his prestigious career in addition to major sports car events like the Rolex 24 and the Petit Le Mans.

Yet nothing he has done compares to what awaits him this weekend on the 2.5-mile superspeedway known as The World Center of Racing.

“It’s important for me to have as many laps as I can in a car that is similar or is based or used to be, a few years ago, what NASCAR was. It’s extremely important,” Castroneves said.

Castroneves turned his first competitive laps on the oval at Daytona International Speedway Thursday during The Duel at Daytona qualifying races for the Daytona 500.

Already guaranteed to start Sunday’s Daytona 500 thanks to NASCAR’s recent introduction of the Open Exemption Provisional, Castroneves had hoped to use his Duel race Thursday to gain pack drafting experience.

Unfortunately, he was collected in a crash on Lap 14 of the first Duel race, preventing him from getting the added laps he was hoping for.

That makes Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series event that much more important for Castroneves.

“Like a driver, you want to do the best job you can and hopefully take the win,” said Castroneves, who will start Saturday’s event from the 19th position after qualifying was cancelled. “However, I want to learn as much as I can and transfer that learning curve to the Cup car.

“Positioning myself, putting myself in a good spot, understanding the game of patience, all of that. Obviously drafting, even though the cars are different, trying to see a little bit of the draft and how it works. All of this, it’s a great way to prepare for the Daytona 500.”

Castroneves said he will lean on Queen and the entire Pinnacle Racing Group as he prepares for Saturday’s race, which he hopes will set the tone for Sunday’s 67th Daytona 500.

“Everyone, not only (Queen) but the entire team and series, they’ve received me with arms wide open,” Castroneves said. “I had a few laps with him (at the pre-race practice) and I kind of felt how it was going to be.

“As of right now, the whole atmosphere has been incredible.”