NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson’s ‘bucket list’ item put on hold

The maiden IndyCar test of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been put on hold, but it is still on his bucket list.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who has stated on multiple occasions that he is open to the idea of competing in a few IndyCar road or street courses after he retires from full-time Cup Series competition, recently landed am IndyCar test date with Arrow McLaren SP.

The 44-year-old El Cajon, California previously worked with McLaren in an open-wheel capacity back in November of 2018 when he did a ride swap with two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso at Bahrain International Circuit.

McLaren joined IndyCar full-time ahead of the 2020 season by forming a partnership with Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

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Johnson, who announced this past November that the 2020 Cup Series season will be his 19th and last as a full-time driver, was slated to drive a Chevrolet-powered car for the team on Monday, April 6 at Barber Motorsports Park, one day after the IndyCar race at the venue.

But due to the coronavirus pandemic, that test, just like everything else in the world of motorsports, has been put on hold.

Postponements and cancellations: TRACKER

The Cup Series was slated to race at Bristol Motor Speedway the day before as well, so the trip from Tennessee to Alabama would have been rather convenient for the Hendrick Motorsports driver. But NASCAR has postponed all races through early May, and IndyCar has canceled all races through the end of April as well.

When will NASCAR and IndyCar resume? TRACKER

While Johnson’s IndyCar test around the 17-turn, 2.38-mile (3.83-kilometer) natural terrain road course in Birmingham, Alabama won’t take place on Monday, April 6 as expected, he still plans to test at some point, which could very well lead to a part-time ride for 2021 and/or beyond.

He noted that this is something that is still on his “bucket list”, which he has stated for years.

A future IndyCar test date for Jimmie Johnson is still unknown, which can be said for just about everything in uncertain and unprecedented times such as these. It has not been confirmed whether or not this test will still take place at Barber Motorsports Park.