” My very first top priority is the health and wellness of my liked ones and my colleagues,” Johnson said. “Ive never ever missed out on a race in my Cup profession, however I know its going to be extremely hard to see from the sidelines when Im supposed to be out there competing. Although this scenario is incredibly frustrating, Im going to come back all set to win races and put ourselves in playoff contention.”
INDIANAPOLIS — Seven-time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson has actually evaluated favorable for the coronavirus and will miss this weekends race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The 44-year-old Johnson is the very first chauffeur in any NASCAR series to test favorable, and the news Friday evening cast a shadow over the historic NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader races showing up Saturday and Sunday. There was no indication any races would be affected.
Hendrick Motorsports stated Johnson will not return up until he is cleared by a physician. He was tested earlier Friday after his spouse, Chani, tested favorable after experiencing allergy-like signs.
Johnson is asymptomatic.
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“Ive never ever missed out on a race in my Cup profession, however I know its going to be really hard to watch from the sidelines when Im supposed to be out there contending. Johnson earlier Friday held a Zoom session with reporters to go over Sundays race and an approaching test of an Indy car on the road course at the fabled location. Johnson has long stated security issues would keep him from racing on IndyCar oval tracks, but Friday he offered a remarkably softer stance about the Indy 500.” When I was a kid growing up, the closest IndyCar racing for me was at Long Beach so one of my hopes is that I am able to race at Long Beach,” Johnson stated. … Theres a lot of sentimental worth with that race and I hope to race there.”.
Johnson is scheduled to retire from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of the season and was attempting to tie Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher as the only five-time winners at Indianapolis.
Johnson earlier Friday held a Zoom session with press reporters to go over Sundays race and an upcoming test of an Indy automobile on the roadway course at the fabled location. He will now miss that test, along with what was expected to be his final Brickyard 400. Justin Allgaier will replace him in the No. 48 Chevrolet.
NASCAR was among the first sports to resume competition from the pandemic shutdown and has finished 11 Cup races since its May 17 return. The sanctioning body does not evaluate for coronavirus but participants are required to do a temperature level check as they go into the facility.
” Their security on ovals has considerably increased this year with the windshield. Ill keep a close eye on things there and see how the security level looks,” Johnson stated. “Ive constantly desired to race the Indy 500. I d have to do a lot of offering to my better half to get that pass, however my true desire today is to just run the roadway courses.”.
Johnson has his eye on the street course race in Long Beach, Calif., a race that was canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic however is one of the most storied occasions on the IndyCar calendar at a track simply a couple hours from his native El Cajon.
Johnson might potentially also miss out on the Cup race at Kentucky and the All-Star race at Bristol. Next weeks test of the roadway course at Indy in Scott Dixons car has likewise been scrapped.
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” Jimmie has managed this circumstance like the champ he is,” stated Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Were eliminated he isnt showing signs which Chani is doing great, and we understand hell be back and ready to go soon. Its going to be tough for him to be out of the automobile and away from his group, but its the best thing to do for Jimmie and everyone involved.”
Chauffeurs have been informed to isolate at the track and there is extremely little interaction beyond radio conversation in between the rival and his crew.
” When I was a kid growing up, the closest IndyCar racing for me was at Long Beach so among my hopes is that I am able to race at Long Beach,” Johnson said. “I hung on the fence a lot as a kid watching and dreaming. … Theres a lot of sentimental worth with that race and I wish to race there.”.
He is stuck in a three-year losing streak but Hendrick Motorsports has been dramatically enhanced this season and Johnson has been competitive. He has also been actively prepping for a whirl in an Indy cars and truck and had been arranged to test with the McLaren group before the pandemic.
” Its a test, its a tryout and its a two-way street. Two-way tryout for the team to take a look at me and for myself to look at a team,” he stated. “If Im about 4 seconds off the speed, then thats probably a fast sign that I do not need to be in one of these cars and trucks. If Im within a specific amount of time and I have a good feel of the cars and truck, then for me, I seem like thats a crucial initial step that I need to know that I can be competitive.
Johnson earlier Friday went over the Indy vehicle test set up with Chip Ganassi Racing, which he stated was the primary step in determine if real races remain in his future. If hes any good, he stated, he would be open to racing all 12 street and roadway course occasions on the IndyCar schedule.
Johnson has long said security issues would keep him from racing on IndyCar oval tracks, but Friday he provided a surprisingly softer stance about the Indy 500. IndyCar this year revealed its aeroscreen windscreen developed to safeguard the drivers from debris as they being in the outdoor cockpits. Saturday will mark just the 2nd race with the gadget, but it appeared problem-free last month on the oval at high-speed Texas Motor Speedway.
” I do not wish to go race in any series and not be competitive,” he stated.
Hendrick Motorsports stated it has actually executed comprehensive treatments to safeguard the health of its staff member. They consist of day-to-day COVID-19 screenings at the group centers; the separation of center operations and traveling workers; split work schedules; rigid face covering and social distancing requirements; and an increased level of sanitizing and sanitization of all work areas.
In this Feb. 16 file picture Jimmie Johnson climbs up into his automobile before the NASCAR Daytona 500 vehicle race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File).
Johnson has actually made 663 conscutive Cup Series begins– the longest streak amongst active chauffeurs– and is presently 12th in the standings, 63 points inside the playoff picture. NASCARs rules mention a chauffeur needs to be sign free and have two unfavorable coronavirus tests in a 24-hour period to return.
NASCAR stated it has given Johnson a playoff waiver.
” Jimmie is a real battle-tested champion, and we wish him well in his healing,” the series said.
Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske both stated theyve had favorable tests from shop-based group members, Johnson is the first motorist. Earlier Friday, Brazilian sports car driver Felipe Nasr said he had tested positive and will miss out on Saturdays IMSA occasion at Daytona International Speedway.
