With seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson’s return to the Nascar Cup Sequence as an possession companion at Petty GMS, and a part-time schedule for the crew as a driver, it’s straightforward to conclude that his goals of working in one other Indianapolis 500 or 24 Hours of Le Mans are over.

However as former faculty soccer coach and analyst on ESPN’s “Sport Day” Lee Corso would say, “Not so quick, My Good friend.”

When immediately requested about his future IndyCar efforts and a run within the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans on Friday at Phoenix Raceway, Johnson mentioned each stay on his “Bucket Listing.”

“It’s nonetheless on the desk,” Johnson mentioned of Le Mans. “I’ve made positive that my calendar is good and open in June, and hopefully it might probably keep that method.”

Johnson hopes to be a part of the Nascar and Hendrick Motorsports “Storage 56” entry in subsequent yr’s famed sports activities automotive basic in Le Mans, France. That Johnson is a Chevrolet crew proprietor in Nascar, and the “Storage 56” entry is a Chevrolet Corvette helps his trigger.

But it surely will get way more sophisticated in IndyCar.

For the previous two years, Johnson has competed for Chip Ganassi Racing within the NTT IndyCar Sequence, driving the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda. It was presumed that crew proprietor Chip Ganassi would enter an additional automotive in subsequent yr’s Indianapolis 500 in order that Johnson might have yet one more try at an Indy 500.

However, with a number of uncommon exceptions, there’s a perceived “Iron Curtain” between producers. Chevrolet competes in each the Nascar Cup Sequence and the NTT IndyCar. Honda doesn’t take part in Nascar and has loved a lot success with its IndyCar program.

Johnson is greater than only a Chevrolet driver; he’s now a stakeholder in a Chevrolet crew. Which means producer assist in engineer, advertising and monetary.

It’s not inconceivable, however extremely unbelievable that Chevrolet would permit Johnson to compete in opposition to its model within the Indianapolis 500.

When Ganassi was a Nascar crew proprietor from 2001 to 2021, a lot of that point was with Chevrolet. Within the present IndyCar Sequence, Ganassi has been with each manufacturers, however a lot of his success has been with Honda.

When Johnson was requested immediately about any future races in IndyCar, he was extraordinarily non-committal.

“Yeah, nonetheless within the sports activities automotive (and) IndyCar,” Johnson mentioned. “I’ve received an superior alternative to race an off-road truck if I would like. Alex Bowman has provided me a Chili Bowl trip. The invitations preserve coming in.

“I’ve been solely targeted on this and do not know the influence of this dedication and relationship and the way that performs out. However as soon as the mud settles from right here, I will get deeper into these different conversations and attempt to construct out the most effective race schedule I can have that does match with the brand new dedication and obligation that I’ve right here.

“That is one thing that can definitely play into all that.”

However, what about producer conflicts between Chevrolet and Honda?

“Have not crossed that bridge but,” Johnson mentioned.

Johnson additionally indicated he want to race on the revived North Wilkesboro Speedway, website of the 2023 Nascar All-Star Race. However, that conflicts with Indy 500 qualifying.

“I observed that on the schedule,” Johnson mentioned. “Once more, haven’t arrived on the dialog but.”

Methinks if his IndyCar profession isn’t useless, it’s definitely on life assist. It may very well be snuffed out by a call within the boardroom, not on the race store.

This can be a dramatically totally different Johnson than once I final spoke with him on October 7 previous to a book-signing at Books-a-Million in Harmony, North Carolina as he was selling his new e book, “One Extra Lap – Jimmie Johnson and the #48.”

At the moment, there was no discuss of crew possession of a Nascar crew. He talked about his want for his household to reside abroad and create a racing schedule in 2023 that would come with IndyCar, Le Mans, and some Nascar Cup Sequence races.

He was a person who loved holidays along with his household and being off the 38-week grind that’s the Nascar Cup Sequence season.

“For sure, issues escalated rapidly,” Johnson mentioned Friday. “I actually did really feel like I’d run some Cup races and was pursuing a number of totally different choices. I nonetheless have a fantastic relationship with Chip Ganassi and the crew, and I’m eager about some IndyCar races, eager about sports activities automotive racing.

“When this chance got here alongside and it actually got here by the places of work of Alan Miller, he is been my longtime agent. I do know he hates that time period, however not solely does his workplace take care of my pursuits but in addition Erik Jones (present Petty GMS driver) and Michael Invoice (an lawyer at Miller’s authorized agency) has been the purpose individual in recent times.

“As Michael discovered about my wishes to proceed to drive and to attempt to discover a totally different solution to be concerned within the sport, he mentioned, ‘Man, you really want to speak to Maury (Gallagher, Petty GMS majority proprietor). I really feel like there’s a possibility right here that basically is sensible on either side.’

“That was the catalyst and begin of it.

“Actually right here within the final month, so much has occurred.”

Johnson will probably be again in a Nascar Cup Sequence automotive at subsequent yr’s 65^th Daytona 500. It’s unsure when, if ever, he returns to an Indy automotive.

It might be over, or it could be extraordinarily restricted. But it surely was definitely a part of Jimmie Johnson’s story.

He believes his time placing collectively the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda helped put together him for an possession stake within the Nascar Cup Sequence crew.

“The final two years within the IndyCar area and the way my workplace has managed our companions, our relationship, the connection I’ve had with Chip, Chip’s willingness to indicate me extra of how a automotive proprietor acts, leads, choices they make. I’ve had a greater understanding of all of it,” Johnson mentioned. “I have been intrigued by it. I have been eager about it. I’ve gained some expertise in it. I feel I am in an setting right here the place I can be taught from two of the most effective and develop.

“Once more, there’s some low-hanging fruit with the competitors facet and collaborating in occasions, driving in vehicles, serving to construct tradition within the store, working with our younger drivers. In order that stuff is sort of a normal, however the larger image is a chance to be taught, and I’ve loved the expertise I’ve had during the last two seasons.”

Even when Johnson was getting ready for a possible return to IndyCar in 2023, Nascar was at all times on his thoughts.

“If I did proceed in IndyCar in ’23, I had deliberate to attempt to come again at some degree in Nascar and run some races,” he mentioned. “I have been open and trustworthy with Mr. (Rick) Hendrick and Jeff Gordon about attempting to return again.

“Justin Marks and I’ve spoken about his Mission 91 automotive. Previous to this chance actually creating, there have been some very informal conversations on the market, perhaps a pathway to return again and run, after which as soon as the IndyCar season concluded, this actually kicked into gear, and now I’ve a pathway to take action.”

Regardless of his finest efforts with a top-notch IndyCar crew, Johnson rapidly found the acute issue adapting to a totally totally different type of racing. Though he typically certified at the back of the grid, Johnson made tangible progress from his first IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park in April 2021. Johnson’s first season in IndyCar was on road and street programs solely and by the tip of that first season, he was mid-pack.

He turned a full-time IndyCar Sequence competitor in 2022, including the oval races to his schedule. He rapidly rediscovered his groove on the ovals, utilizing a excessive line round Texas Motor Speedway to complete sixth after beginning 18^th.

Johnson was spectacular in the course of the Month of Might on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he was among the many quickest drivers every day in observe and {qualifications} for the 106^th Indianapolis 500. He made the “Quick 12” and had a shot on the pole however bobbled getting into Flip 1 on his first lap. Regardless of three very quick laps to observe, his four-lap common put him 12^th within the beginning lineup.

Johnson known as the precise race within the Indianapolis 500 one of the irritating in his profession. His automotive dropped again within the pack, and he mentioned he couldn’t get it to deal with correctly so deep within the subject.

With 5 laps left within the Indy 500, Johnson crashed in Flip 2 when he was already two laps right down to the chief, teammate, and eventual winner Marcus Ericsson.

The spotlight of Johnson’s two-season IndyCar profession got here within the Hy-Vee IndyCar Weekend at Iowa Speedway. He began 15^th and raced his solution to the entrance, main 19 laps earlier than ending 11^th within the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 on the quick oval.

The next day, Johnson scored the very best end of his IndyCar profession when he was fifth within the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300.

At the moment, Johnson was dedicated to a full-time return to the NTT IndyCar Sequence in 2023, pending approval from his sponsor, Carvana.

However by the ultimate race of the season at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca, Carvana had agreed to proceed in Johnson’s racing endeavors, however the driver had reservations about one other full season in IndyCar.

Ten days after the season ended, Johnson introduced he was stepping again from full-time racing in 2023. He mentioned he had an inventory of “Bucket Listing” races that he needed to compete in. These included the 24 Hours of Le Mans for NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports “Storage 56” entry subsequent June. He additionally needed to try “The Double” by working within the 107^th Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 the identical day.

With Friday’s announcement, Johnson might run the 600 within the additional automotive at Petty GMS. Presumably, Chip Ganassi Racing was set so as to add an additional Honda-powered automotive to the lineup for Johnson within the 107^th Indianapolis 500, however that’s now unsure with Johnson a stakeholder with a Nascar Chevrolet crew.

High Chevrolet IndyCar groups equivalent to Staff Penske usually are not including one other automotive to subsequent yr’s Indy 500, in response to Staff Penske President Tim Cindric. Arrow McLaren SP has already elevated to 4 vehicles for subsequent yr’s Indy 500 with the addition of Tony Kanaan. Ed Carpenter Racing has three vehicles in subsequent yr’s Indy 500 and are “over capability” in response to driver Conor Daly.

That leaves Chevy groups equivalent to AJ Foyt Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing and the Indy 500-only Dreyer & Reinbold Racing as groups that would create an additional automotive for Johnson within the Indy 500.

The one crew that has received the Indy 500 out of that group is AJ Foyt Racing and the final time it completed that was with Kenny Brack in 1999.

Examine that to Chip Ganassi Racing, which received the Indy 500 on Might 29^th with Marcus Ericsson as the motive force.

Johnson emphasised that he nonetheless desires to compete within the Indy 500 and nonetheless desires to drive within the NTT IndyCar Sequence.

“We have to get by this announcement and finalize another contracts and particulars to place collectively my program and the races I’ll run within the Cup Sequence,” Johnson mentioned after the formal announcement. “And after that may department into the IndyCar facet. There’s nonetheless some hurdles. Completely different producers. If the crew would love me at sure races, it could have an effect on me from testing, qualifying on the Indy 500 facet. There are some schedule items in there that wanted to be checked out.

“Everybody is aware of my want to do it, and I haven’t heard no but, so I’m inspired, however we actually simply must get into it and work by the main points.”

After Johnson’s huge announcement on Friday, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson each admitted that their possibilities at competing at subsequent yr’s Indianapolis 500 are fading quick. In reality, Busch mentioned his Indy 500 probability has “dried up.” Larson would very very like to run within the Indy 500, however mentioned his cellphone has not rang.

“I feel it’s apparent that I wish to race it,” Larson mentioned Friday. “Nothing has moved ahead with it. If one thing got here to me that was in a aggressive automotive, I’d soar proper on it. I feel there’s so restricted rides once you’re restricted to 1 producer. It’s powerful. I feel I learn with Kyle (Busch) that it sort of stalled out with him. It’s powerful, however I’d like to run it.”

Johnson is decided to return to the Indy 500, even when he has to barter the obstacles of competing engine producers.

“The expertise of the Indianapolis 500 is not like anything,” Johnson mentioned. “And I’m one which believes drivers driving something and every thing helps your complete trade. And the stronger our trade is as an entire, the stronger Nascar goes to be. I give credit score to the blokes who run grime vehicles and automobiles on the grass roots degree constructing new followers and crew members and all that comes from it.

“I definitely subscribe to that.”

It was Ganassi that really inspired Johnson to contemplate crew possession. That’s what Ganassi did when his days as a race driver have been over and he has gone on to change into one of the profitable crew homeowners in IndyCar historical past.

When Johnson informed Ganassi that he was taking the supply at Petty GMS, Ganassi was comfortable for him.

“I can’t categorical how cool he’s been to work for, and once I had the thought, how supportive he was,” Johnson mentioned. “And all through the 2 years I spent in IndyCar, after which as I used to be attempting to make my resolution once more how supportive he’s been only for me to be me. ‘Do me. No matter I wish to do.’

“As this chance got here alongside, completely the identical. Similar tone, identical expertise. Actually a day or two in the past, known as him with the official information, and he was so comfortable. Simply genuinely comfortable for me.”

Johnson reached a fork within the street when it comes to his profession and determined to take the trail again to Nascar, doubtlessly leaving IndyCar in his rear-view mirror whereas sustaining an opportunity to compete within the 24 Hours of Le Mans.