Jimmie Johnson is continuing his part-time sportscar season this weekend by getting behind the wheel of the #48 Cadillac DPi in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.
The opportunity is made possible by a short break in IndyCar’s schedule, which has taken the veteran racer’s availability for a good portion of the IMSA calendar on account of him running the full 17-race IndyCar schedule.
Johnson is keeping a keen eye out for any 2023 schedule announcements from IndyCar to judge his availability for another item on his bucket list: Le Mans.
For next year’s edition of the famous 24 hour race, longtime NASCAR owner Rick Hendrick plans to field a NASCAR Cup Series car in the Garage 56 prototype entry. Johnson’s name has been mentioned as one of the drivers in line to pilot the car for the unique opportunity.
A few people have been eyeing up the opportunity to see the Hall of Fame driver participate in another hallmark of racing, including Johnson himself. So much so that he’s had conversations with IndyCar’s management to see if next year’s schedule will allow him to contest the race in France.
“I’m still eagerly awaiting the [IndyCar] schedule,” said Johnson ahead of this weekend’s six hour race. “I’m pushing behind the scenes to [IndyCar president] Jay Frye and others to try to understand what the schedule might be.
“I want to go to Le Mans. It would be an amazing experience to go with Hendrick and Action Express, and the way this whole partnership works. But I think so much hinges on the schedule being released to understand if I can, and from the team standpoint what drivers would be at the top of their list.
“I feel like the interest is really high on both sides. We haven’t been able to talk anything more formal because the schedule’s not out.
“So, I’m thankful to have had a few conversations with them and I know that there’s interest. I certainly have a ton of interest to do it. We’re just waiting for that first domino to fall.”
Johnson is no stranger to 24 hour endurance races, and has competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona nine times. The race in Le Mans is in another category, however, and would fulfil a goal for the veteran racer.
He did not mention the possibility of skipping one of IndyCar’s races to run in Le Mans, should that be necessary, but it does seem that his first priority is his commitment to the American open wheel series.
IndyCar usually releases its schedule for the following year before the current season of running is complete. That could be a couple months from now, however, as arrangements are still being made behind closed doors.
“We’re still in this phase, whether it’s IndyCar or sportscar or any other ideas I have to go racing, people are just starting to talk about options,” continued Johnson. “It’s usually end of summer, beginning of fall when paper starts moving around and people are looking to ink stuff and get it done.
“I really think it’s schedule permitting and then the opportunity permitting. I think in the next month or two there will be more clarity for myself and for a few others out there as well as the series really comes together and cars and seats and opportunities are out there.”
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