IndyCar: Could this finally be Jimmie Johnson's chance?

For the third time, NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson is set to test an open-wheel car as he prepares to potentially make his IndyCar debut in 2021. Will he actually do it this time? We should find out later today.

Back on Monday, April 6, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson had been slated to make his maiden IndyCar test at Barber Motorsports driving a Chevrolet-powered car for Arrow McLaren SP.

Johnson, who has long said he wants to compete in IndyCar road course races after he retires from NASCAR, had attended preseason testing as a guest of the team at Circuit of the Americas in February.

They even acquired the number 48 from Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for his test, indicating that a potential 2021 ride could be in the works; Johnson has driven the #48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports throughout his entire career.

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Unfortunately, that test was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the 44-year-old El Cajon, California native, who is in his 19th and final season as a full-time Cup Series driver, was set to get another chance.

This time, Johnson was set to drive a Honda-powered car for Chip Ganassi Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Wednesday, July 8 following the first ever NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader at the venue.

However, Johnson himself then tested positive for COVID-19, causing that test to be scrapped from the calendar as well. He even missed the Cup Series race at the track’s oval on Sunday, July 5, his first missed start since becoming a full-time driver in 2002. He had been on a streak of 663 consecutive starts.

But now, for the third time, he is set to test an open-wheel race car, and he is again set to drive a Honda-powered car for Chip Ganassi Racing at the 13-turn, 2.439-mile (3.925-kilometer) road course in Speedway, Indiana. Johnson is set to complete this test later today, according to RACER.

Are things finally going to play out for the seven-time champion?

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Johnson currently sits in 18th place in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings, and he sits in the 19th position in the playoff picture, 18 points below the playoff cut line, with seven races remaining in the 26-race regular season, all scheduled to take place in August.

IndyCar: Is this finally Jimmie Johnson’s chance?

By Asher Fair | Jul 28, 2020

For the third time, NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson is set to test an open-wheel car as he prepares to potentially make his IndyCar debut in 2021. Will he actually do it this time? We should find out later today.