Johnson To Test
Jimmie Johnson will test an Indy car for Chip Ganassi Racing next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (HHP/Harold Hinson photo)

Johnson To Test Ganassi Indy Car On IMS Road Course

INDIANAPOLIS – After testing the Indy car waters virtually during the iRacing IndyCar Challenge earlier this year, Jimmie Johnson will finally get his first shot to drive an Indy car in real life next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Johnson confirmed via social media Monday afternoon that he will test a Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Honda on July 8 at IMS, following the GMR Grand Prix there this Saturday.

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will test the Ganassi entry on the track’s 2.439-mile road course, per team officials, who also noted that Chip Ganassi Racing is permitted to test Johnson under IndyCar rules that allow teams to do driver evaluations.

Johnson was scheduled to test an Arrow McLaren SP Indy car April 6 at Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park, but that test was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent cancellation of the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama for 2020.

He had been fitted for a seat with the McLaren team and also attended preseason testing for the NTT IndyCar Series at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, as well.

Prior to his Indy car outing next Wednesday, Johnson will compete on the IMS oval Sunday with the NASCAR Cup Series, seeking his record-tying fifth Brickyard 400 victory.

After news of Johnson’s impending test hit social media Wednesday, several notable well-wishers chimed in to either offer their excitement or send out words of encouragement.