7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is dipping his toes in the open wheel racing division via Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Jimmie Johnson has won the NASCAR Cup Series title, 7 times. He has 83 wins with his most recent coming in 2017.
The champ is now in the middle of his final season with the NASCAR Cup Series. But, as the driver has stated multiple times, he’s not done racing.
Johnson has previously expressed interest in Indycar. As the sport went iRacing during the pandemic, Johnson ran several digital Indycar events in the process.
Now, he’s jumping into the real thing.
“I get to test an IndyCar next week! A big thanks to my friends Chip Ganassi Racing for the opportunity. Now back to the gym for a crash course in IndyCar specific strength training,” Jimmie Johnson tweeted.
On June 4th, the NTT INDYCAR Series starts their month-long stint in Indianapolis. The month begins with the race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Soon after that event, Johnson will test a Chip Ganassi Racing INDYCAR car on the road course of Indianapolis.
“Hey 7x Champ Jimmie Johnson! Looking forward to giving you a go at this Indycar stuff! Maybe we can get 5x Scott Dixon to give you a tip or two! See you there July 8th on the IMS Road Course course,” Indycar team owner Chip Ganassi stated.
Indycar drivers react to Jimmie Johnson test
This has caught the attention of the open-wheel world:
Simon Pagenaud: “Can’t wait to hear what you think of it!!! Enjoy every minut of it.”
Oriol Servia: Holy Shit! That’s awesome man!!! You are going to love it.
This won’t be Johnson’s first go at an open-wheel machine. Back in late 2018, Jimmie Johnson and Fernando Alonso swapped rides. Alonso piloted a NASCAR stock car for the first time while Johnson jumped behind the wheel of a F1 machine.
Johnson has already expressed interest in racing Indycar events in 2021. This is the first step.
Links
Jimmie Johnson | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Chip Ganassi Racing | NASCAR | Indycar
