Johnson headed to important week at IMS

It’s an important week for Jimmie Johnson of The American Legion INDYCAR team, as the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion prepares for his first Indianapolis 500 in May.

The annual Indy 500 Open Test is scheduled for April 20-21 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, weather permitting.

It gives Johnson the opportunity to complete his Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program (ROP). He passed the first two phases of ROP on Oct. 6, 2021, and will be allowed to complete the third and final phase with other cars on the track.

Once the driver of the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda at Chip Ganassi Racing completes his ROP, he will try to get as much lap time as possible at the 2.5-mile, four-cornered Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Johnson continues to recover from a broken right hand from a crash in practice at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 8. Despite the broken hand, Johnson competed in qualifications and the race before he crashed into another tire barrier with 10 laps to go in the famed street race.

Johnson flew back to Charlotte, N.C., and had surgery to repair the broken hand just below the pinky finger on April 11. The surgery was performed by Dr. Glenn Gaston, Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship Director at OrthoCarolina. Johnson is expected to make a complete recovery and plans to participate in the INDYCAR test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway April 20-21.

Johnson told The American Legion the two-day test is extremely valuable as he prepares for his first Indianapolis 500 on May 29.

“Test days are so limited and so valuable, it’s going to be huge,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to get in a group of cars and understand how the draft works and how to set up passes and ultimately building comfort in the race car and working towards being as competitive as I can be.”

Running in traffic will give Johnson some tremendous experience in the Indy car. When he began his ROP last October, he was one of just two drivers on the track. The other was Romain Grosjean of Andretti Autosport.

A near full field of cars and drivers that will compete in the 106th Indianapolis 500 is expected to take part in this week’s open test session.

“It’s a different environment,” Johnson explained. “I learned first-hand at the race in Texas how turbulent the air is in traffic and how little grip you have. Any experience gained there in this test session will only help come race day.

“Finishing sixth at Texas was a really big boost. I feel really good about it. I believe we left a position or two on the table because of some issues with telemetry. To race my way into the top five, quality passes on more than quality drivers, to put myself in that position was very meaningful and instilled some confidence.”

Johnson goes back to being considered a rookie at the Indianapolis 500 after he completed a rookie season in INDYCAR in 2021 when he drove on the street and road courses.

“It makes me laugh, for starters, but I’ll take it,” Johnson said. “Honestly, I do feel like a rookie. I feel like in some respects on the street and road courses I still need the yellow gearbox cover because I’m starting from such a low spot compared to these other formula drivers and their journey into this sport.

“I’ve never seen these tracks. I’ve never driven in the junior series, and here I am in this most competitive era of INDYCAR racing and being thrown right in the deep end of the pool.”

It’s the next stop in Johnson’s Indianapolis 500 dream, that actually began when he was a youngster watching the race on television back in El Cajon, Calif.

“I was little,” Johnson said. “I have many vague memories being very young watching it on the couch with my grandfather and my father. My grandfather was an A.J. Foyt fan. I always had a tie towards Rick Mears because he grew up in California and raced motorcycles and off-road so there was an attachment there. Robby Gordon for similar reasons.

“But I had something for Al Unser, Jr. I loved trying to understand what it would be like racing against my dad. My dad was more mechanically inclined, and I never raced against him. But I loved that Al Unser and Al Jr. had moments to race each other on the track at the same time and I thought that storyline was super cool.”

Johnson is the centerpiece of The American Legion’s partnership with the series and has seen the relationship grown into the official charity partner of INDYCAR.

“It is so meaningful to me,” Johnson said. “I’ve had two grandfathers that served and a brother-in-law that served. To be able to represent The American Legion and watch their involvement grow certainly shows our fan base is tuned in and they are reaching the people that they need to.

“I’m honored to represent them, and I’m thankful for the fans and their interaction and warm reception for The American Legion.”

The two-day practice session is open to the public, but they are limited to the Turn 2 mounds near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The two days of testing will be streamed on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service.