August 19, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Changing Gears: Jimmie Johnson searching for comfort zone in IndyCar

MADISON, Ill.—Jimmie Johnson was ready for a new challenge when he retired from full-time NASCAR competition after the 2020 season.

The seven-time Cup champion found it in IndyCar behind the wheel of the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

After running a partial season confined to road courses last year, Johnson added the ovals for a full-schedule run in 2022—including this weekend’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“I feel like I really was planning to slow down and then this opportunity came about that I couldn't turn down,” Johnson said. “As busy as I was on the Cup side, granted, it's not as long of a season, but it's a very time-intensive season. It's been so fun to have this new challenge to have to rewire my brain and my senses to drive these cars. 

“Learning new tracks, the car itself and the people and the performance of the car, that's probably been the highlight for me to go this fast, to stop a car that quickly, to corner at these speeds, the G-forces... It's really been an experience for me more than anything, and I've loved it.”

In three decades of racing, Johnson, who turns 47 on September 17, never thought he would be tested like this. Open-wheel racing is a discipline unlike any he has ever experienced. He has no notebook, no seat-of-the-pants feel to rely on.

“On the street and road courses, there's been nothing,” Johnson said. “The only thing I feel that has been there for me is the pressure I felt to race for race wins or championships and to manage expectations to manage pressure and just to do my job. Because inside the car, everything you do in an IndyCar is the opposite of a Cup car. In an Indy car the performance level is much higher. 

“What you do with your hands and your feet and how you attack the racetrack or the car itself is just different,” Johnson said. “And then the tires in a Cup car are so big and heavy. It turns the tire on pretty quickly and you have to worry about tire conservation immediately, like as soon as a lap starts or run starts. In an IndyCar, you have to be so aggressive and slide the car and beat the tires up to turn them on. So, instinctively, I'd tiptoe around, and I never turned the tire on or I turned the tire on five laps too late and the field is gone or my qualifying session's over.”

The weight of the cars alone differs significantly, with a Cup car weighing in at 3,200 pounds compared to 1,630 for Indy cars on road/street courses to 1,590 on speedways. Cup cars' horsepower ranges from 510 at Daytona, Talladega and Atlanta to 670 at all other tracks. Indy cars range from 550-700 horsepower. Between the power-to-weight ratio and the tires, Johnson has had his hands full.

“It's really been an interesting process because my defaults are the wrong defaults to have for an IndyCar,” Johnson said. “As I've been aware of that and been able to address it, I've made great progress. I thought I would have made more progress on the road courses by now, but it's just tough. 

“The ovals have gone really well, you know. Excited to be another at another oval this weekend, and hopefully I can finish a little higher.” 

Johnson qualified 21st on Friday with an average speed of 176.368 mph. Will Power topped time trials with an average speed of 182.727 mph to earn his 67th pole—tying the series record set by Mario Andretti.

As Johnson has adapted to the tire, his performance has improved. In 12 IndyCar starts in 2021, his best finish of 17th occurred in the final two races of the season—Laguna Seca and Long Beach. 

But his results have picked up considerably since adding the ovals to his schedule. Johnson’s first top 10 came at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished sixth in March. He led his first laps in the Indy 500 in May. And last month at Iowa Speedway, Johnson led a career-best 19 laps in the first race then scored his first top-five finish in the second contest.
 
“The oval at Iowa was a very high tire fall-off track and it suited me,” Johnson said. “The tire behaved more like a Cup car. All of these other tracks we go to, you can't hurt the tire. The car is so lightweight. The tires are built for these high G-forces and speeds, the downforce in the car. You don't have this big cliff that you fall off of and my defaults, that hurt me.

“But at Iowa, it really helped me, and I'm hopeful at Gateway that we do have that type of fall-off again where I'm able to have my default work for me.”

Johnson keeps “a watchful eye” on the NASCAR community. He’s intrigued by the new car and hasn’t ruled out a return at some point. Buzz surrounding a Johnson attempt at the Indy 500-Coke 600 double next May continues.

“Yeah, definitely curious,” Johnson said regarding the new Cup car. “Again, I didn't think I would be this busy right now. I thought I might be able to come back and run some races. But it's just been way more active here on the IndyCar side than I imagined. The cars do look fun to drive. A little concerned about how they don't crunch up like they used to for these impacts and some of these hits look pretty severe. Obviously, with Kurt (Busch’s) situation. I'm hopeful that something that can be resolved. 

“But to watch the guys have the opportunity to shift gears, to understand how the cars are more friendly now in certain aero situations, and they can race better side-by-side, I think those are all great steps in making the racing more competitive and fun. And, of course, it's a race car. I want to drive it. I want to feel it.”  

With no room at the Hendrick inn, would Johnson consider driving the Trackhouse Racing No. 91 Chevrolet for Justin Marks? The team is making its debut this weekend at Watkins Glen with Kimi Raikonnen. 

“Yeah, it's an intriguing car and situation that Justin has there,” Johnson said. “I think many are looking at that 91 car and hopeful that you get a phone call from Justin and have that chance. And it's one that I would consider. I haven't had that phone call yet, but I certainly would consider it.  

“It's going to be tough for me to work through not being in a Hendrick car. I know obviously, I can't do it directly with Hendrick because of the rule of four cars, but I'd have to look really hard at it, just because of my pristine history that I have and only driving a Hendrick car, you know, take a lot of pride in that and I would have to think real hard about it.” 

Johnson wouldn’t have to think twice about competing in 24 Hours of Le Mans, schedule permitting. His former crew chief, Chad Knaus, who is now vice president of competition for Hendrick Motorsports, is overseeing the Garage 56 entry for Le Mans between HMS, Chevy, IMSA and Goodyear. 

“It's certainly something I'm looking very closely at, but I've still got to work through my calendar for ‘23,” Johnson said. “I hope that that date is open. This year in the IndyCar Series, there was a conflict. If I continue on IndyCar next year, you've got that big concern. I think, too, on the Cup side, they're hoping to have some current cup drivers in the car, but chances are they're going to be busy. So I think we're all eagerly awaiting the schedules to be released to understand if the day is open.  

"But certainly, with my experience in Action Express Racing and driving that Ally DPI car over there, Chad has been on the box calling the races--all that synergy is there and would be very helpful moving into the garage 56 program. That's kind of the last thing left on my to-do list or my bucket list, and to have a chance to go do it with Hendrick, Chad, and that whole group would be epic.”