The 2021 IndyCar season is steadily approaching and Jimmie Johnson is leaving no stone unturned. Recently, he took part in a final pre-season test at the Barber Motorsports Park. Ever since his announcement, Johnson has been taking his time to really get to know his machine.
After this final test, the 7-time NASCAR Cup champion gave his thoughts on the run. Jimmie Johnson said, “Great day in the books, its my fifth day ever in the race car.
“There’s a lot of things that came to me, the speed in the car, much much closer on the pace. I’m really sensing and feeling the car, so I’m really happy with the progress I’ve made.”
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Testing… Test, test… 🔊@JimmieJohnson // #NoFinishLines pic.twitter.com/Ql3kcjsNLr
— Carvana Racing (@CarvanaRacing) March 9, 2021
Johnson acknowledged that the next time he drives the car, it’ll be the race weekend. Obviously, he hoped to have a few more days in the car, but things cannot be helped. Having said all that, the 45-year-old is looking forward to coming back to Barber Motorsports and actually racing there.
What lies ahead for Jimmie Johnson?
Admittedly, Johnson has a number of expectations laid out in front of him. The Chip Ganassi Racing team is keen to see the NASCAR legend deliver the goods for them in his 2 years with the outfit.
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Although he is a rookie in a broad sense of the term, the #48 driver will have plenty of experienced teammates around him.
One of them is the reigning champion, Scott Dixon, who will be an asset in helping Johnson find his bearings. Others include Marcus Ericsson and Alex Palou, as well as Tony Kanaan. Kanaan will deputize for Jimmie Johnson during the oval race events since Johnson is running at road courses.
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Without a doubt, the 45-year-old will be keen to hit the tarmac once again. The difference is that he will be running in racing conditions, which is the real litmus test.