NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson partners with Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar move

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson will transition from NASCAR to IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing in a partnership that could pair two of the most dominant drivers of this generation on 1 team.

The 7-time NASCAR winner will operate with the Ganassi corporation to finalize sponsorship on a two-year system for Johnson to operate the street and road study course races on IndyCar’s routine. If funding is secured, Johnson would be teammates with 5-time IndyCar winner Scott Dixon.

The partnership declared Wednesday would also leave area for Johnson to compete in select NASCAR gatherings since Ganassi fields only two vehicles in the Cup Series. Johnson has used his overall twenty-year Cup career driving for Hendrick Motorsports, which is now at the 4-motor vehicle most and would not have area for Johnson soon after he retires from entire-time NASCAR competition in November.

Johnson, who turns forty five subsequent 7 days, analyzed an Indy motor vehicle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Ganassi in July.

“Ganassi was extremely determined to give me a probability to generate a motor vehicle to see what I assumed and the encounter was all that I hoped for and far more,” Johnson informed The Associated Push. “I remaining a good impact with them where by there is certainly surely interest on their side, and now it can be time to formalize points and get the ball rolling.”

Landing sponsorship is critical to the offer and Johnson stated his personal team has experienced effective discussions with potential partners as his interest in IndyCar has amplified. He’s experienced only two main sponsors — Lowe’s from 2001 by way of 2018 and Ally the past two seasons — and prefers regular branding.

Now Johnson will endeavor to fill his 2021 routine with somewhere around 15 gatherings. IndyCar’s initial 2020 routine consisted of 12 street and road study course gatherings just before the pandemic forced cancellations.

“We have some selections that are interested in getting these main rights for all 12 races, but there could be a situation where by you break it off into three-to-4 race blocs for sponsors in areas that are most important for them,” Johnson stated. “But our target is surely to sell the main spot to 1 and have that regular search that I have experienced all over my career. I personally would adore to carry on that.”

Two of the most effective

Johnson and Dixon are the winningest drivers of their generations in their respective formulation. Johnson’s eighty three wins are tied for sixth all-time in NASCAR and the 7 titles are a file he shares with Corridor of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

Dixon past thirty day period attained his fiftieth career victory, third all-time powering A.J. Foyt (67) and Mario Andretti (fifty two). His 5 titles trail only Foyt’s 7, and he is bought a 96-point direct in the present-day championship chase. Dixon is the most tenured driver in Ganassi’s thirty-year historical past at 19 yrs.

Johnson has produced an off-observe friendship with each Dixon and former Ganassi driver Dario Franchitti, who is now a driver coach for the corporation. Equally had been instrumental in piquing Johnson’s interest in IndyCar and Dixon assisted Johnson at the July check.

“The pairing is this sort of a great option,” Johnson stated.

Why Ganassi

Johnson stated he experienced discussions with several interested IndyCar organizations, such as Arrow McLaren SP. His to start with check experienced initially been scheduled with the McLaren team in April but was canceled since of the pandemic.

Ganassi place alongside one another an first check for early July that Johnson experienced to cancel when he analyzed beneficial for COVID-19, but the corporation bought him on the observe three months afterwards. As soon as certain he desired to race in 2021 there had been several interested organizations but the Ganassi partnership was the 1 Johnson pursued.

“To pair Jimmie with the likes of Scott Dixon is rather an option. They are truly in rarified air and I imagine everybody is familiar with by now that I like winners,” Ganassi stated. “The target right now is for us to operate Jimmie in an Indy motor vehicle for at least the subsequent couple of seasons, and we want to present people we’re really serious about the system. We felt it was important to get the partnership carried out and start putting the fiscal building blocks in position to make this a reality.”

Ganassi has taken challenges just before he introduced Juan Pablo Montoya back from Formulation A single to NASCAR in 2006, and Franchitti tried using NASCAR in 2008 during a 1-year break from IndyCar.

NASCAR and Chevrolet

Johnson is open up to incorporating each marquee NASCAR races and athletics motor vehicle gatherings to his routine as he aims for 15 gatherings a year. He stated the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway could be an easy sell since of the sponsorship possibilities on the throwback paint plan weekend, as well as street study course races and superspeedways.

“There’s a ton of hurdles to very clear, but I’m open up,” Johnson stated.

Ganassi is backed by Honda in IndyCar, so it will convey an conclusion to Johnson’s extended connection with Chevrolet.

Johnson has been supported by Chevrolet practically his overall career and has hardly ever competed on the countrywide degree for a different manufacturer. Chevrolet and Honda are direct competitors in IndyCar Honda does not participate in NASCAR.

“I did have to make that get in touch with to my pals at Chevrolet, and they entirely get it,” Johnson stated. “Chip operates a Chevy NASCAR system and has received a championship for them in IndyCar, and you know, it can be not suitable but they realize the option and with any luck , there is certainly ways we can nevertheless race alongside one another.”