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By Bob Pockrass
FOX Athletics NASCAR Author
Jimmie Johnson has seen his post-NASCAR career as one in which he could decide on and select what he races.
His future selection could contain a return to NASCAR for a race or two.
The 7-time Cup champion announced Monday that he would not return to total-time IndyCar racing in 2023 and expressed desire in a portion-time racing plan that could consist of an Indy 500-Coke 600 double on the Sunday of Memorial Working day weekend.
Johnson explained Tuesday that simply because he just built this final decision, he hasn’t experienced any considerable talks with NASCAR groups about strategies for upcoming calendar year.
NASCAR companies are confined to a maximum of four cars and trucks, so that most very likely means Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing wouldn’t be feasible. Any other team would be, and the a single that can make the most feeling is Trackhouse Racing, which ideas to run a portion-time third auto — acknowledged as Undertaking91 — with drivers who could deliver desire internationally.
Jimmie Johnson on his fascination in Coke 600-Indy 500 double
Jimmie Johnson announced Monday that he will not likely race whole time in 2023 and expressed some curiosity in an Indy 500-Coke 600 double.
Johnson would be a single of people motorists, and both equally Johnson and Trackhouse owner Justin Marks have California roots. In point, in 2021, Marks acquired the NASCAR procedure of Chip Ganassi, who owns the IndyCar crew Johnson has pushed with for the earlier two a long time and would hope to push for once more if he does compete in any IndyCar races.
“Justin, he is been a longtime buddy and somebody that I stay in touch with, and he’s absolutely produced it recognized that the Challenge91 motor vehicle is offered if I have interest, so I would want to continue on those people conversations forward,” Johnson claimed.
While he drove for Chevrolet in the course of his NASCAR occupation and Honda in IndyCar, Johnson has no manufacturer obligations at the second.
“I am currently not beneath a deal with Honda or with Chevrolet,” he mentioned. “So I do truly feel like my solutions are open up.”
Johnson outlined Tuesday that he ought to have eligibility as a previous Cup champion to contend in NASCAR’s two exhibition races: the Clash and the All-Star Race. The eligibility policies for those events typically are adjusted calendar year-to-yr. Previous year’s All-Star Race required drivers to be latest total-timers, however if Johnson expressed desire early ample, it would not be a shock for NASCAR to tweak the procedures to obtain a way to get him in.
Following Johnson “retired” from NASCAR in 2020, he opted to operate only street classes in IndyCar in 2021 for the reason that of worries around security problems on ovals. IndyCar’s improvement of its aeroscreen to safeguard the driver was section of the motive he opted for a whole IndyCar routine in 2022.
The 47-year-outdated Johnson stated he has read driver feedback about the security of the Upcoming Gen car or truck, but that will never preserve him from racing just one.
“I have absolutely been paying shut attention to NASCAR and see the opinions from the motorists,” Johnson said. “I know that safety is the highest precedence for NASCAR. And I would consider that they are actively doing the job on some alternatives to help with these rear impacts and this kind of.
“But I am not coming from an educated issue of watch. I you should not have any major fears on the lookout ahead, and if there was an possibility to come together, I feel that both of those automobiles [in IndyCar and NASCAR] are actually in a basic safety window that I am ready to drive.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has put in decades masking motorsports, such as the earlier 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass, and sign up for the FOX Sports NASCAR E-newsletter with Bob Pockrass.
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