Jimmie Johnson returned to Texas Motor Speedway, his first in an Indy car (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
FORT WORTH, Texas – On a track that’s meant so much to Jimmie Johnson, it was poetic that his first INDYCAR top-10 result was at Texas Motor Speedway.
Johnson won at the 1.5-mile oval seven times in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, this Sunday’s XPEL 375 was his INDYCAR oval debut. After 248 laps of challenges and learning curves, Johnson brought the No. 48 Carvana Honda home in one piece.
At one point, Johnson was up to fifth after pick pocketing the field, going against the likes of Simon Pagenaud and his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon, the six-time series champion.
However, in the closing laps, Johnson was passed by Dixon, just keeping him out of a top-five finish. Both chatted after the race which Johnson described as “typical driver fashion.”
“Scott was mad that his car wasn’t fast enough to win like a typical racer,” said Johnson. “He told me great job, but was less happy to finish fifth and wanted to win of course.”
Part of Johnson’s concern at the end was having telemetry issues where fuel became the word. He received a panicked fuel number and judging by what his crew were telling him over the radio, it was serious. That led him not bracing Dixon to defend his fifth spot.
Nonetheless, he was absolutely happy of running well in an Indy car.
“What a two-day adventure this has been,” said Johnson. “To be able to get enough laps in the race, to feel the tires from start to finish, green flag stops, being in dirty air, just how uncomfortable and treacherous that is. All of those little mistakes and little moments gave me a sense of the car and helped me feel really how to drive this car, how to create speed.
“Second half of the race I started working my way forward in that final stint, had a very competitive car. Wished that I had maybe started the race a little further forward. I think I could have finished a little further forward.”
Johnson and Dixon after the race (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
That top-10 almost wouldn’t have happened as he had a great view of the three-car accident on Lap 129 that eliminated Helio Castroneves, Devlin DeFrancesco and Graham Rahal. Johnson noted that three-wide wouldn’t work in any discipline that race at TMS.
“Three-wide here in a Cup car has never turned out well. What’s different is how quickly you get a run in an INDYCAR. It’s tempting to take that momentum and try to make a pass,” Johnson on the final caution.
“Unfortunately, it happened so quick and things kind of funnel down at the end of the back straightaway, there’s just not enough room, especially for the clean lane.
“When I saw them three-wide past the halfway point of the back straightaway, I knew it wasn’t going to turn out, get out of the gas,” Johnson continued.
“I’m trying to learn the crash dynamics, if you will. Cup cars, sometimes they come back down in front of you. Today I was around the two crashes. The car quickly initially went away. I’m getting used to that.
“For a split second with the three of them, I wasn’t sure if one was going to come down a little earlier, across the front of my car. They all stayed high thankfully for my situation.”
Johnson ahead of Dixon for fifth in the closing laps (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
Johnson’s effort was received with rave reviews among the INDYCAR paddock. Chip Ganassi congratulated Johnson on a job well done and felt the top-10 result was like a win.
It even surprised race winner Josef Newgarden when finding out he got sixth, so much so, his facial expression was beyond astonishing.
“That’s legit. Hard to finish sixth at Texas. It’s hard. Like, that’s really good,” Newgarden on Johnson.
“Not to take away from Jimmie, but it has been a steep learning curve. He’s had to unlearn an entire career of operating procedures. The INDYCAR is so removed from what a stockcar is. For him to be able to get on top of that so quickly, it makes sense it’s going better here at Texas, it’s closer to what he’s used to procedurally. I don’t want to act too surprised because he is a seven-time champ, incredible worker and teammate,” Newgarden continued.
“Man, that’s really good, though. First INDYCAR oval race, sixth at Texas. These cars are hard to drive. The way that we draft, the way the groove works for us, you can’t go up a lane or two like in a stockcar. They’re scrubbing the car before he gets there. I need to watch this race back, see how he got there. I’m sure he’ll be a huge threat at Indy then. Great news.”
Johnson during driver intros (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
In Johnson’s eyes, had the race gone 50 laps further, he would’ve enjoyed it. Nevertheless, Johnson thanked his race engineer, Eric Cowdin, on giving him a fast Honda, realizing why Tony Kanaan enjoyed working with him.
“Not only did I grow and improve, but through my growth I’ve been able to give better feedback to the team,” said Johnson. “Eric made some amazing adjustments to the car, really put it into its window for that last stint. It really showed.”
The next oval race for Johnson won’t be just an extraordinary oval circuit. It’s the 106th Indianapolis 500 in two months.
He’s won the Brickyard 400 four times (2006, 2008-09, 2012), but it’s a whole different ball game with the Month of May being the greatest challenge of his legendary career.
If Texas was any indicative of what’s to come, “Jimmie Mania” may have leverage.
“I think today just showed what the 48 car is capable of,” said Johnson. “We all know what the Chip Ganassi cars are capable of. I just haven’t been fast enough on the street and road courses to put the car in that window and get results.
“To be here on a track I know, an environment that I know, I was able to provide and do that for the team. I feel very excited about it, very encouraged about the remaining oval races that are on the books. I know I’m going to have a great car. We’ll see how it goes.”
