Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson set to drive an IndyCar

By Asher Fair

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 08: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 08, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 08: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, prepares to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 08, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is set to drive an IndyCar for Arrow McLaren SP at Barber Motorsports Park.

After the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season ended in November, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson confirmed that the 2020 season would be his 19th and final season as a full-time competitor in the sport.

Despite the unexpected nature of the the 44-year-old El Cajon, California native’s announcement given that it came just days after the 2019 season ended, this announcement did come amid speculation that retirement could be near.

He extended his contract with Hendrick Motorsports through 2020 back in June of 2017 but did not sign an extension when primary sponsor Ally Financial extended their contract with the #48 Chevrolet through the 2023 season this past October.

More from IndyCar

But Johnson stated then and has since reiterated that his Cup Series retirement will not be a retirement from racing.

He is simply stepping away from running 38 weekends per year like he has for nearly two decades.

He did not rule out coming back to the Cup Series from time to time, and interestingly, he stated that there are other forms of racing that he would like to try. One of those other forms of racing is one that he has discussed trying for quite a few years, and that is IndyCar in the road and street course races.

Now he is officially set to get behind the wheel, he confirmed on Twitter earlier this week.

When asked by a fan what, exactly, this post meant, Johnson confirmed that he is set to drive an open-wheel race car next month.

Johnson is set to test a Chevrolet-powered car for the Arrow McLaren SP team at Barber Motorsports Park, the 17-turn, 2.38-mile (3.83-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Birmingham, Alabama.

Arrow McLaren SP were formed when Formula 1 team McLaren formed a partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports last August.

Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports ended their contract with Honda one year early and switched to Chevrolet engines for the 2020 season before confirming 2018 and 2019 Indy Lights champions Patricio O’Ward and Oliver Askew as their two full-time drivers for the 2020 season.

They later confirmed an Indianapolis 500 entry for two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso.

Johnson and McLaren CEO Zak Brown are close friends, with the former having recently attended IndyCar Spring Training at Circuit of the Americas through an invitation from the team.

Additionally, Johnson participated in a Formula 1/NASCAR ride swap with then-McLaren driver Alonso at Bahrain International Circuit back in November of 2018 just after Alonso retired.

Next. Top 10 IndyCar drivers of all-time. dark

Could this test with Arrow McLaren SP at Barber Motorsports Park lead to Jimmie Johnson competing in an actual IndyCar race at some point in the near future? With all things considered, this looks like a step in the right direction toward that goal.