We all know Jimmie Johnson from his successful NASCAR stint in the Lowe’s 48 as a seven-time cup series champion, his part-time return to the cup series in the number 84 car, owner of Legacy Motor Club, and recent Hall of Famer. Lately, though, not much has been said about his two-year journey in the NTT Indycar series and whether he will return to the sport. To briefly recap, Johnson started his Indycar career with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, a year after announcing his shocking retirement from NASCAR.
At the beginning of his NTT Indycar stint, Jimmie Johnson found it challenging to transition to Indycar due to the vehicle’s high intensity. Even so, he placed fifth as a rookie against fellow teammate Marcus Ericcson at Iowa Motorspeedway in 2022, becoming the points leader for Ganassi Racing and taking fifth place overall. So, it’s obvious wherever he goes, he makes his mark. But does this mean he will return to Indycar to race for Chip Ganassi?
About Jimmie Johnson’s Move to Indycar
The racer’s reasoning for setting his sights on Indycar stems from dreams he has had ever since childhood. In an in-depth sit-down interview via podcast by the Avett Brothers, a folk rock band from North Carolina, in 2021, he explained this position by sharing how, as a kid growing up in Southern California, he dreamed of being in the NTT Series even though he was racing motorcycles at the time. Therefore, he knew when the opportunity presented itself, it was time to take a leap of faith and go for it.
Jimmie Johnson even mentioned to Seth and Scott Avett that deciding on Indycar took him a year. However, once the decision was made, there was no going back. He expressed how life is all about taking chances, and this one was no different. He noted he wasn’t worried about points or gaining that competitive edge with his speed over his fellow contenders but more about setting goals within himself when asked by Lindsay Czarniak about how he planned to focus on his speed during races.
But he didn’t disregard that it would be his focus in future races. These considerations propelled him into forward motion and helped him clench the nomination for the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. Undoubtedly, he’s one of NASCAR’s greats, tying with none other than Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty as a seven-time champ. It’s clear that he added his unique brand of success to Indycar, and there’s no surprise there. His Indycar career highlights are nothing short of astounding.
Indycar Career Highlight
The all-time great has always been fueled by his love of the sport and childhood dream of racing for the NTT Series. Jimmie Johnson undoubtedly merged his success in NASCAR with his time racing in the #48 car for Chip Ganassi Racing. The start of his career seemed more centered around getting a handle on racing an Indycar vehicle, but it wouldn’t be long before the rookie would transition this momentum to Indycar. The highlight of his career began at Laguna Seca at Weathertech Raceway in California during the 11th race of the NTT series season.
This California race was nothing short of eventful. Jimmie Johnson was unsure of where Ganassi Racing stood going into the race, and his thoughts would continue to be challenged throughout it. Between tire degradation and a close call with fellow rookie Romain Grosjean, who took a hard right at the track’s corkscrew, he was sure he wouldn’t accomplish his career best of 17th out of 27 cars racing that day, but he was able to pull it off, and it was nothing short of miraculous. Fans took notice and were excited to see him gain three consecutive record highs before the season’s close.
Jimmie Johnson’s desire to compete and drive for success kept him going during his 2-year campaign with Chip Ganassi Racing. Still, because he wasn’t as successful there as he was during his 22 years with NASCAR, he decided to only participate in a handful of Indycar events in 2023. Many speculate this was partly due to his partnering to take over ownership of Petty GMS racing, now Legacy Motorclub, and his desire to return to the franchise part-time. Only time will tell if Jimmie Johnson plans to make an Indycar comeback.
Chances of Johnson Returning to Indycar?
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Considering the abrupt return to the NASCAR franchise, what are the odds that Jimmie Johnson will make an actual Indycar comeback? With his sights set full-time on NASCAR for the 2024 Season and making connections through a partnership with Maury Gallagher as a team owner, promoting his brand, and front-end relations, he’s put a return to Indycar on hold, at least for now. During his short time as a team owner for LMC, he’s learned just how hard those behind-the-scenes work and has gained a newfound respect for that level of work.
He views it as rewarding on a whole other level than being behind the wheel of a stock car. Wherever Jimmie Johnson goes, he brings an undeniable level of enthusiasm and work ethic to the table, so it’s no wonder his drivers, John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones, are becoming household names. Nemechek made his cup series return with Legacy Motorclub after a disappointing run with Front Row Motorsports.
It’s safe to say Jimmie Johnson won’t be going anywhere soon, even if he’s not part of Indycar. Nascar is undoubtedly enjoying having his expertise back, even if it’s under a different realm. Fans are conflicted because they’d rather see him behind the wheel, but the shift is needed, especially since the franchise will be down one less team at the end with the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of 2024. Without question, the team is set to do great things, so stay tuned to see the moves Johnson and LMC make in the coming months.
Final Thoughts
Jimmie Johnson and his run with Chip Ganassi racing wasn’t everything that the former NASCAR 7-time champ thought it would be, but it didn’t disappoint. Inching closer to success at the end of the NTT Indycar season, he left his mark on the sport and fulfilled a childhood dream. As a kid racing motorcycles in the 80s, these thoughts ran through his mind, stamping a future destined for greatness. It will be interesting to see how Jimmie Johnson adds to this greatness, and who knows, maybe he’ll even make his way back to Indycar.
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