IndyCar: 5 possible replacements for Jimmie Johnson in 2023

Possible Jimmie Johnson replacements for 2023: No. 2 – Sebastien Bourdais

Since making his IndyCar return in 2011, Sebastien Bourdais has always been seen as a driver who deserves a top-tier ride but has never been able to get one.

The four-time Champ Car champion has won multiple races for relatively mid-pack teams such as KV Racing Technology (and KVSH Racing) and Dale Coyne Racing, and he has run well for others, securing multiple podium finishes for Dragon Racing. He won at least one race each year from 2014 to 2018.

The 2022 season was his first season without a single IndyCar start since 2010, but he never formally retired from open-wheel competition.

There is little doubt that age is just a number, considering the recent success had by fellow quadragenarians such as Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, and two of the top three drivers in the final 2022 championship standings, champion Will Power and Scott Dixon.

At 43 years of age, Bourdais competes full-time for Chip Ganassi Racing’s Cadillac Racing IMSA SportsCar Championship program, and he earned three wins in nine races this season.

So the ties to Chip Ganassi’s team are there, and if the organization is really looking for a short-term replacement, this could be a great opportunity for everybody to see what the Frenchman can do in top-tier IndyCar equipment.