Jimmie Johnson hasn't had a chance to recover, having raced from Italy to Iowa to the simulator and ultimately the Finger Lakes. He will make one of his final two scheduled appearances in the IMSA sports car this weekend at Watkins Glen.
Johnson aspires to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans when he starts organizing his itinerary for 2023.
In a unique Garage 56 class created to highlight the ingenuity of NASCAR's new Next Gen model, NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, and Chevrolet want to send a stock car to Le Mans in June next year. Two weeks after the Indianapolis 500, on June 10-11, the famous endurance competition is set.
Johnson stated that he would like to take part in the lineup but that it would rely on the 2023 IndyCar schedule. This is a sign that the seven-time NASCAR champion still has high hopes for the third season of open-wheel competition.
"I'd like to see Le Mans. But I believe that a lot depends on the timetable being made public before I can know if I can," Johnson remarked. "I am aware of the interest. I would be very interested in doing it. Now, all we have to do is wait for the first domino to fall.
Johnson, who spent nearly two decades driving for Rick Hendrick, thinks he is a Le Man's contender.
He continued, "I feel the interest is great on both sides. "Since the timetable hasn't been released, we haven't been able to talk in more formal terms."
Johnson has resorted to his current racing schedule's hottest days because everything is in flux. Before a two-week break, IndyCar raced five weeks in a row. Johnson used this time to travel to Italy with his wife and two girls.
However, the 46-year-old was forced to return home for a test on Monday at Iowa Speedway, a unique oval that Johnson has never previously competed on. Johnson incorporated the Six Hours of the Glen, the third of four IMSA endurance races, into his schedule as part of an agreement between Hendrick, Action Express Racing, and sponsor Ally this weekend. During a media session this week, he discussed this while groggy and drinking coffee.
Johnson's open-wheel debut at an oval, the Twelve Hours of Sebring, conflicted with an IndyCar visit at Texas Motor Speedway in March. With this weekend's return to the No. 48 Cadillac, he can reunite with teammates Mike Rockenfeller and Kamui Kobayashi.
He briefly occupied the position at Watkins Glen a year ago, and he is unsure how much Sunday's race will include Chad Knaus, his former NASCAR crew chief and the leader of the No. 48's IMSA program.
Johnson added, "There's not much drive time in a six-hour race with three drivers, period. "I believe that my pace ultimately determines how long I spend driving."
Johnson is unsure of his itinerary for 2023, but he hopes it will at least include IMSA endurance events and a second entire IndyCar season.
Funding is a significant factor in his return to IndyCar. Johnson ran solely the road and street circuits last year. He independently found Carvana to support his transition from NASCAR champion to IndyCar rookie. This season, he added ovals, and last month, he raced in his first Indy 500.
He was considered a contender to win his first 500, but he crashed late and came in 28th. A Johnson-debunked rumor that he would only compete for ovals the following year resulted from his persistent struggles on the road and street courses.
"I'm not sure how that got started. Johnson said I hadn't brought it up in conversations or thought processes. "What I've been doing has been incredibly enjoyable. Continue to advance. We intend to retake similar actions the following year.
Whatever he does in 2023 will depend on sponsorship, scheduling, and upcoming car racing rules changes. A new LMDh class will take the place of the prototype DPi class, allowing IMSA's premier division to compete at Le Mans.
The problem with the adjustment is that there might not be enough bare chassis and parts for teams working on a half schedule.
We are still in this phase regarding IndyCar, sports cars, or any other racing-related thoughts I have. According to Johnson, people are only beginning to discuss possibilities in everything. "Paper starts moving around at the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall when people are eager to ink things and finish them. I'm trying to keep my choices open, but it's still early in the cycle.
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