Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, is retiring from full-time racing and will spend his time to family.
He estimates that his future itinerary would contain no more than ten bucket-list items, but the 47-year-old had no clue what that plan will look like on Monday.
The Associated Press quoted Johnson as saying, “I’ve got a blank sheet of paper, and we can now see what opportunities exist and start making a calendar.” Carvana, Johnson’s sponsor, has previously stated that it will support him in whatever race he chooses.
Johnson waited two weeks after the IndyCar season finale to make his choice, including a weekend in England with Ganassi colleagues Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. He told the Associated Press that he didn’t need the time to think about his future.
“It’s been an interesting process to feel so fulfilled with the experience and then also try to make a decision,” Johnson said. “In the big scheme of things, there is so much life planning going on with the kids. We’ve always had an idea of trying to live abroad for a year or two. We love Colorado and want to spend more time there, and there’s just so much swirling personally and professionally that I just wanted to take some time and make the decision not on the back of a positive or negative experience on the racetrack.”
So, what is Johnson thinking, who is retiring from NASCAR in 2020?
Le Mans
The NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports special “Garage 56” entry would compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Johnson has stated that he wants to be part of the three-driver Le Mans lineup from the outset, despite the fact that it is an exhibition for the Next Gen and the vehicle will be the only one in its class.
He’d been waiting for the 2023 IndyCar calendar to see whether he’d be available, but if NASCAR wants its future Hall of Famer, he’ll make sure his schedule is free.
IndyCar
Johnson will almost certainly not return to Chip Ganassi Racing for a second full IndyCar season. He raced only the street and road courses in 2021, added the ovals to run the entire 2022 season, and is now unsure if he will race IndyCar at all.
“We are fully supportive of Jimmie. He has been a valued member of our team and if we can find a way to continue working together, we would like to do so,” said team owner Ganassi.
Over the course of two seasons, Johnson struggled on the street and road courses, with his greatest results coming on ovals – the discipline he dominated for nearly two decades in NASCAR. He finished sixth in an IndyCar race in Iowa, and despite crashing out of his Indianapolis 500 debut, Johnson turned laps at above 240 mph in qualification.
“I do have a desire to go back, it’s just at this point, I know what’s required to do a full schedule, and I don’t have that in me,” Johnson told AP. “I don’t have that passion that I need for myself to commit myself to a full season.”
Big idea
Johnson has indicated since his 2020 NASCAR retirement that he’d compete in the series again if the chance arose, and he’s now considering doing “the double” — the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Kurt Busch was the last driver in 2014 to try the 1,100-mile, two-state journey. Busch was 200 miles from finishing when his engine failed in the NASCAR closer. Tony Stewart is the first driver to finish all 1,100 miles, having tried both races twice. Both John Andretti and Robby Gordon attempted before Busch.
Johnson would want to give it a shot: he won the Coca-Cola 600 four times at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including three straight triumphs from 2003 to 2005.
“You know me and endurance sports, and the double sounds awesome,” Johnson told AP. “I’ve always had this respect for the guys who have done the double. I would say it is more of a respect thing than a bucket-list item, and I’d love to put some energy into that idea and see if I can pull it off.”
Another NASCAR race that has piqued his interest? The maiden race through Chicago’s downtown streets next year, as well as the All-Star race in North Wilkesboro. As a previous winner, Johnson is exempt from both the All-Star race and the exhibition season-opening Clash at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
What else?
After this weekend’s IMSA season-ending Petit Le Mans, Johnson’s future in sports car racing is undetermined. He’s spent the last two seasons racing in endurance events as part of a team with Hendrick and Action Express, but he doesn’t think there will be enough inventory next year when IMSA adopts new cars for Johnson’s effort to continue.
He told AP that he would be interested in racing in a lower IMSA category, such as LMP2, and even the six-race World Endurance Championship. The WEC Series, on the other hand, appeals to him because of its exotic locations – Monza, Italy, Fuji Speedway in Japan, Bahrain – and his passion of world travel, which he shares with his wife and two young kids.
He and his wife, Chani Johnson, have discussed putting their kids in school for a year in either England or France for the experience, and as a hands-on father, Johnson actively participates in transporting his daughters to and from their busy schedule of sports and activities. Chani Johnson also has a thriving art gallery and is trying to grow her business.
“Chani has always supported me to the nth degree and also at the same time had her objectives, desires and pursued her pathway and her career. I think she’s optimistically cautious I follow through with this plan,” Johnson told AP. “But these decisions are based around family needs and demands, and I think it gets tricky and a bit more complicated on my schedule if we can some traction on travel and living abroad.
“But those are decisions that will come about in the next few months. And so I go into this I would say with no regrets. I look back and definitely learned lessons from what’s happened, good and bad. But I don’t have any pit in my stomach of something left unfinished, or any regrets I might have.”
