Jimmie Johnson returns to oval competition this Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
The XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway won’t be a mundane oval race for Jimmie Johnson.
He’s raced at the 1.5-mile circuit before, winning a record seven times in the NASCAR Cup Series.
However, this Sunday marks his much anticipated INDYCAR oval debut and there’s some buzz surrounding the Chip Ganassi Racing driver. After exclusively running road course and street course races last year, Johnson is focused on making the most out of the challenge.
There’s one catch. How will Johnson fare with 26 other cars surrounding his No. 48 Carvana Honda?
Although Johnson tested an IndyCar at Texas, he hasn’t had many opportunities running around his fellow competitors, more so when last week’s testing session was called off due to cold conditions that made it unideal to run laps.
Even when he did single-lap runs, there’s still things he’d like to learn because of the valuable, on track experience.
“I’m thankful for every lap that I have had so far, but I still have plenty to learn in single car running. I’ve still not been in traffic,” said Johnson.
“These cars are much more sensitive in traffic than what I anticipated from watching. I’ve watched every video as humanly possible. I’m still surprised how big of a tow these cars receive exiting turn two to turn one, how much distance you can close. Working on the timing of that.
“It was something I was hopeful to experience at a test session, get a sense of closing rate, get a sense of how the turbulent air affects the car in turns one and two, how to set up a pass. I’ll have to use the two hours of practice we have to maximize that, get a sense of it, so I can have the best race craft possible heading into the event.”
Despite some concerns, Johnson is still excited about returning to the track he’s accomplished a lot in his racing career.
“(As) excited as I am to be on an oval, I still haven’t been in traffic in an INDYCAR,” said Johnson during Wednesday’s Zoom call. “I still have plenty to learn coming to a track I know and love. Really excited to get there and work.”
Part of the motivation of running the entire 17-race campaign was indeed everyone involved in the No. 48 camp. Notably, his primary sponsor Carvana, who’ve been supportive of following the seven-time Cup champion’s journey to INDYCAR.
Johnson will look to improve from his 23rd place finish at St. Petersburg (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
“It’s really important for Carvana, myself, Chip Ganassi Racing, American Legion, all the partners that are involved and onboard,” said Johnson. “I’m very thankful that they’ve all wanted to help tell the story. Certainly Carvana stepping up to the level that they have, their interest in documenting my journey.
“From day one, Ernie Garcia has believed in this crossover and the journey that I’m trying to make moving from stockcars to INDYCAR. They’ve just liked to tell the story. I think my story relates with many people in life that are looking for career change, that 2.0 moment. They’ve loved to be on this journey with me. I’m very thankful.
“I certainly do have higher expectations of myself moving on to the ovals. Excited to get there, get going and see where I stack up.”
Oval racing in INDYCAR has its unique characteristics compared to drivers who’ve came from other disciplines.
At times, competitors have adapted fondly. The most recent example was multi-time Supercar champion and St. Petersburg winner Scott McLaughlin, who finished second in the first Texas race last May.
Time will tell if Johnson’s oval experience will bode well in an open wheel machine. When describing how the rhythm of oval racing works, Johnson used Texas as an example during his time in the Cup Series. The belief is that each oval circuit has its own rhythm.
“Ovals are a little easier to find in some respects, maybe come quicker just because the lap is shorter. It’s easier to pick up the rhythm of a track with four corners versus one with 17 or something like that,” Johnson explained.
“There is a rhythm to Texas. It is much different than what I have felt in the Cup car. But where it is similar is just how aggressive you can be in turns three and four, then really how cautious you need to be turn one, kind of getting the car pointed and heading off the back straightaway for turn two.
“It’s a lap where you start tiptoeing, making sure you really hit your marks, to then really moving down the back straightaway and throwing all the aggression you can at turns three and four.”
Johnson celebrating in victory lane after the 2014 AAA Texas 500 (Photo: Chris Graythen | Getty Images).
If there’s one guarantee from Johnson, it’s his comfort zone being ideal. Compared to the road and street courses he’s competed since retiring from NASCAR after 2020, Johnson has felt more comfortable on ovals.
“Definitely more comfortable in my few days on an oval than I’ve really been on a street or road course yet. That experience certainly gives me a ton of optimism,” Johnson commented.
“Obviously the fact that things felt more familiar between the Cup car and an INDYCAR on an oval, that just helped build my confidence and really kind of the feel needed.
“Again, I have not been in traffic yet, so I know I still have a huge hurdle there with race craft, getting into things. For qualifying I feel more optimistic than I have for any oval qualifying session. I haven’t been in an oval qualifying session yet.”
Johnson and the rest of the 26 INDYCAR drivers will take center stage Sunday. Live coverage of the 248-lap event begins at Noon ET on NBC.
