IndyCar: Jimmie Johnson announcement coming 'soon'

Chip Ganassi Racing and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson have reportedly landed a primary sponsor for the 2021 IndyCar season, with official confirmation expected in the very near future.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is set to retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2020 season and make the move to IndyCar as a road and street course driver next year.

Johnson signed a multi-year deal to drive a Honda-powered car for Chip Ganassi Racing starting in 2021, but their search for a primary sponsor for the 45-year-old El Cajon, California native’s car continued beyond this announcement.

Now that search has reportedly concluded. According to Sports Business Journal‘s Adam Stern, Chip Ganassi Racing and Johnson have secured a primary sponsor to back their road and street course effort for the 2021 season, and an announcement on the matter is set to come “soon”.

Chip Ganassi Racing and @JimmieJohnson have found a new primary sponsor for their @IndyCar venture next year, per sources, completing the final step needed to seal his move.

➖ The brand's identity is unknown, but sources expect an announcement soon. pic.twitter.com/o446m1xJog
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 23, 2020

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This is particularly notable not just because it brings Johnson closer to officially being in line to compete in 13 of the 17 races on the 2021 schedule, but because of the current uncertainty surrounding the situation of the rest of the team.

Scott Dixon, the five-time champion who has a 98.69% chance of becoming a six-time champion tomorrow afternoon, is set to return for another year behind the wheel of the #9 PNC Bank Honda next year, but that is where the confirmations currently end. It has been reported that Felix Rosenqvist, whose #10 Honda is sponsored by series title sponsor NTT Data, will be making the move to Arrow McLaren SP next year to drive the #7 Chevrolet.

Marcus Ericsson is expected to return behind the wheel of the #8 Huski Chocolate Honda next year, but that has not yet been confirmed.

With Johnson having reportedly secured a primary sponsor for his part-time effort, that would indicate that he will not be behind the wheel of the #10 Honda and instead behind the wheel of a separate car, a car that would presumably have an open seat for another driver for the four oval races on the schedule.

Tony Kanaan is seen as an option here, as is Oliver Askew, whom Rosenqvist is reportedly set to replace.

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Askew as a full-time driver for the team has also been floated as a possibility, given how he impressed them in a test last year at Portland International Raceway, and Haas Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen, who is set to lose his ride with the sport’s lone American team at the end of the year, has been thrown into the mix as well.

IndyCar: Jimmie Johnson announcement coming ‘soon’

By Asher Fair | Oct 24, 2020

Chip Ganassi Racing and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson have reportedly landed a primary sponsor for the 2021 IndyCar season, with official confirmation expected in the very near future.