Racing comes at a cost, sometimes the biggest cost in life, i.e., life itself. Throughout the years, motorsports has statistically been the most fatal sport in history. No matter how skilled a racer may be, the looming threat of mishaps always remains a concern for everyone involved. Even the face of modern NASCAR, Jimmie Johnson, is no stranger to this experience.

Following his recent venture into the IndyCar series, the 7-time Cup Series Champion’s wife had an eye-opening moment. IndyCar is much lighter than stock cars and hits much faster speeds. This was a thrilling experience for Johnson. However, his wife did not enjoy his IndyCar ventures as much as he did, which may explain why he hasn’t raced IndyCar since 2022.

IndyCar and the risk of racing

After retiring from full-time NASCAR racing in 2020, Jimmie Johnson has shifted his focus in 2021 more toward IndyCar and special events like Le Mans. When it comes to the IndyCar series, he said in an interview with High Performance, “IndyCar racing was a different animal,” implying the relatively higher intensity and speed endurance compared to NASCAR.

He disclosed a humorous, or rather scary, moment that occurred the first time his wife saw him driving in an IndyCar. In 2021, when he was racing at Barber Motorsport Park, his wife was in attendance. “The first time my wife saw me in an Indy Car go around, we went by at like 230-240 at the opening lap,” said Johnson. The second she saw those cars go by, it triggered her to the point of running away from the grandstands. She even confessed to Johnson, “I can’t watch,” to which Johnson surely took note.

“Racers are racers, and I think we look at our risk assessment differently,” Johnson said. Talking about the different risk appetites of drivers, which can depend on multiple factors, Johnson acknowledged that the reasons each driver has are valid in their own way. Although the veteran was grateful for the safety measures put in place today as he remembers how risky driving was when he entered the sport.

“I can’t believe I climbed in a race car with hard walls,” said Johnson. The veteran joined NASCAR right on the brink of its safety evolution. Jimmie Johnson debuted in 2001 and had his first full-time season in 2002. NACAR saw arguably its darkest year yet in 2001 with the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr. fatally crashing at the Daytona 500. This prompted swift safety changes to the tracks and cars.

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I’m thankful that safety has come so far. When I look at each individual series and the rules and regulations they have in place. The invention of softer walls, the Hans device.” In 2001, NASCAR mandated drivers use HANS (Head And Neck Support restraint) devices. This device is widely considered the most important safety development in the car in the history of racing. In 2002, tracks began replacing concrete walls with energy-absorbing SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers. This was completed at all ovals by 2005.

Johnson’s concerns moving forward

The seven-time World Champion has been in scenarios where he felt like, “this was it,” and moments that chilled him to the spine. Sure, he misses the full-time adrenaline rush of NASCAR, but it’s definitely a relief not to do it week in and week out. “When I first started, the amount of risk I was taking then, the near misses, the mistakes made—like all of that made me who I am today,” Johnson said, reflecting on his changed risk appetite with age.

Although Jimmie Johnson has announced his retirement from full-time NASCAR racing, he still looks forward to being involved as an owner and part-time driver. At 49 years of age, Johnson has become wiser than ever before, understanding the complications and responsibilities of having a family, which is what ultimately led him to take “safety” into serious consideration. In the same interview, he got candid about his feelings of vulnerability.

“The day when I put my helmet on and I worry about that? (Then) I’m not going to put my helmet back on,” Jimmie said in a moment of vulnerability. “And that hasn’t happened,” he added. This comes as a silver lining for his fans, as he implied that he will not be stepping down from his racing career anytime soon. Be it NASCAR, IndyCar, or Le Mans.