MONTEREY, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson got the news he had been waiting for from Carvana. His primary sponsor in his post-NASCAR racing career has agreed to return in 2023.
However, that may not be a full-time ride in the NTT IndyCar Series.
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion revealed the update to a group of reporters, including SPEED SPORT, during Friday morning’s “Bullpen” session at the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. It’s the season’s final race for the NTT IndyCar Series.
Johnson has been saying all season that he wants to return to a full IndyCar Series season in 2023, but on Friday he went to great lengths to not commit to anything for next year.
“I actually do have an update for you guys,” Johnson said. “Great news. Carvana is behind me in whatever I choose to do in 2023. To have their support, their desire to be with me in whatever plans I decide to take in 2023, this is exciting news. They see such a high value in being a part of the IndyCar Series, the cars that I drive in or whatever path I choose to do in 2023.
“I wish I had more news to share. I don’t. I do have this news in September versus December of last year. My typical journey in IndyCar is the season finishes, I take some time to figure out what I really want to do, explore the options in front of me and then make a decision.
“I feel very good to have this news and know what I provide, what Chip Ganassi Racing provides, what this series is about, Carvana wants to be back and are willing to support a full IndyCar schedule if that is what I decide to do.”
Johnson has been saying for months that he definitely wants to continue full time in IndyCar. On Friday, however, he chose his words carefully.
“It’s time to go home, look inside myself and what my goals are professionally and personally, spend some time talking to the girls about it and make some decisions,” Johnson said. “I honestly think I’m not doing anything different this year than I did last, let the dust settle from the season and evaluate my options.
“I can go on record to say this year has been more of a time commitment on a full-time schedule basis than I expected. I don’t know where my IMSA plans sit. I don’t know where my IndyCar plans sit. I want to get to Le Mans. There are other things I want to do personally and professionally as well and see what works.
“I’m going to go through my normal process. Take a bit of time, digest it, think about it, meeting with Team Johnson and see what works. But the good thing is Carvana sees how important this is all about and wants to support me in whatever way they do.”
Johnson has had difficulty in making the transition from a legendary NASCAR Cup Series career that included a record-tying seven championships and 83 victories.
He enters Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey with one top-five finish in 28 career IndyCar starts including a partial season in 2021 and a full season in 2022. However, Johnson has made dramatic improvement in terms of lap times and race craft to the IndyCar but continues to struggle on the street and road courses while showing increased competitiveness on the ovals.
“It’s all to be determined,” Johnson said. “I love being here. I want to be here. I do feel like the other piece to this puzzle is Chip Ganassi Racing. The support I have from Chip and everybody in the organization. This is more about me wanting to figure out what I want to do in 2023. Chip is in the loop on all of these conversations and has been a great friend in all of this process. He is on board with whatever I want to do.
“This all happened last year after the season concluded. This is no different than what I’ve done in year’s past, it’s just we found out about it in September.”
Johnson wants to be part of the Garage 56 entry in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, a NASCAR effort in the famed endurance contest. The driver, however, is waiting on the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series schedule so he can determine his racing schedule.
Johnson’s major associate sponsor is The American Legion, but he indicated it’s a Chip Ganassi Racing sponsor. He believes The Legion would want to be on board with whatever decision he makes.
“I need to let the dust settle on the season and figure out what my personal and professional goals are,” he said. “There are new options developing for me that I have to take a look at.
“We have some personal goals, too. We would like to live abroad for a year or two. I’ve had my serious car racing career, and this is really about the experience. Equal the professional opportunities I have in ’23, I want to look at the personal opportunities for me and my family, and just need some to get that organized.”