Jimmie Johnson readjusts to Cup auto in testing at Phoenix

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Bob Pockrass

FOX NASCAR Insider

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Jimmie Johnson relished the opportunity to get again into a NASCAR Cup Collection auto even if it probable won’t enable him much when he attempts to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a few months.

Johnson turned some laps Tuesday in a Cup auto at Phoenix Raceway, the put exactly where he last drove in NASCAR in 2020. The seven-time Cup winner has invested the last two decades racing in IndyCar, and the inventory car or truck — a substantially heavier automobile with fewer horsepower and not quit-on-a-dime braking — certainly felt diverse.

“The pace did seem distinctive, no question about that,” Johnson reported. “And then just the mass of the automobile — this kind of a distinctive sensation in the stock automobile with all the mass making an attempt to slow it down and attempting to transform instructions, trying to use the throttle.

“With the IndyCar, it truly is so crisp and nimble. But that is been tricky for me to feeling and come to feel so it’s genuinely great to be back again in a car that gave me some warning, gave me some cues that it is really slipping and sliding about.”

The 47-12 months-old Johnson introduced in November that he would return to NASCAR as a aspect-time driver and co-owner of what is now Legacy Motor Club. His take a look at was permitted underneath a provision in which NASCAR lets elite drivers take a look at a Up coming Gen car (the NASCAR Cup car or truck that debuted previous yr) at a observe exactly where the driver will not likely race.

It is built to enable a driver to get modified to the auto, and Johnson definitely was ready to use the take a look at to discover about the automobile. Johnson had invested some time in the Chevrolet racing simulator to get ready.

“I am thankful that I experienced sim time due to the fact I believe I would have busted my butt if I just showed up in this article and attempted to push off a memory,” explained Johnson, who pointed out how different the tires are for the Next Gen car or truck. “So I uncovered that to be extremely helpful and experienced a excellent day.”

But the 1-mile Phoenix monitor races nothing like the 2.5-mile superior-banked Daytona Intercontinental Speedway, where by Johnson will have to qualify his way into the Daytona 500. There are only four places open up for non-chartered autos, and Johnson will be just one of at the very least five drivers (and maybe as quite a few as eight) going for individuals 4 places.

“I wouldn’t say it is improved something for me relative to the 500,” Johnson reported about the test. “But now driving the auto and get a sense of it to perform via some small variations that we were being permitted by way of the tests procedure, … for myself it was excellent just to get again in just one of these cars and trucks and go by way of the techniques.”

Just knowing some of the aspects of how the automobile drives is a little something Johnson hopes could aid him. He explained he uncovered some about when to get on and off the throttle and the shifting mechanism of the Future Gen motor vehicle.

“Hopefully it can utilize far and extensive,” Johnson stated. “I really don’t imagine what I discovered right here nowadays will have in excess of to Daytona. … That’s an animal of its own. But today was a good observe. And a excellent working day for me in the auto.”

Johnson has not set the relaxation of his 2023 timetable past Daytona, but he said Tuesday that racing in the Indianapolis 500 seems not likely. He would like to race in Hendrick Motorsports’ “Garage 56” system which is bringing a Following Gen-variety car to the 24 Hrs of Le Mans.

“It’s not off but I am heading to know actual soon,” Johnson reported about racing in the Indy 500. “It truly is near [to not happening]. There’s a couple of shifting items with the Garage 56 chance, sponsorship, timing and where that all sits.

“I you should not have clarity just nevertheless, but ideally really soon.”

Working with Johnson at Phoenix was Todd Gordon, a previous Cup winner crew chief for Joey Logano. Johnson introduced Monday that Gordon would be his crew main for his Cup starts.

“Todd is a real expert,” Johnson explained. “Evidently his stats talk for on their own. I’m trying to obtain somebody to truly assist match in, function with me and also assistance the firm — Todd’s a great applicant for that.”

Gordon remaining Team Penske subsequent the 2021 time, working mainly as a radio analyst on reveals and broadcasts.

“Racers do not ever give it up — at the very least the wish,” Gordon reported, “Any person mentioned, ‘You’re finding scratched an itch.’ It really is fantastic in that respect.

“And the other portion is that the other components of my profession at this level, it retains me pertinent. It retains me experienced about the garage and about the automobiles and I feel it’ll assist me on that facet of it.”

Johnson’s co-owner Richard Petty, who also was a 7-time Cup winner, claimed Johnson would be like a rookie in the Subsequent Gen motor vehicle simply because it is so distinct.

So did Johnson experience like a rookie Tuesday?

“I hope not,” Johnson mentioned. “In some respects, I did.”

Bob Pockrass addresses NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has put in many years masking motorsports, such as the previous 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Beach front) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass, and indicator up for the FOX Sporting activities NASCAR Publication with Bob Pockrass.

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