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Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmie Johnson has officially retired from NASCAR and is pursuing a new hobby. However, aside from his IndyCar gig, he is also eager to try his hand at sports car racing.
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He will get his chance, with a shot at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Recently, he spoke about his upcoming endurance race. He acknowledged that he always harbored an interest in sports car racing.
So, since he decided to end his Cup Series career, he could fall back on this path. This is why the 24 Hours of Daytona is so crucial for him to get into the groove of things.
Of course, Jimmie Johnson also has to ensure that he performs to the best of his ability in order to help open doors for him.
“I feel like I need to let it be known that sports car racing is definitely an interest for me. And being in this race is crucial for that to set up for things down the road and obviously, a good run and good performance should help open doors or at least keep me in people’s minds,” Johnson said.
ALSO READ- Jimmie Johnson to Be Part of Star-Studded Line-up for the 2021 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona
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HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 20: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, poses for a portrait after winning the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images)
What else did Jimmie Johnson say?
The 45-year-old admitted that he practically grew up around endurance racing with the desert off-road series. That explained why it fascinated him a lot, and that probably played into his mindset. Additionally, it helped him understand how tough endurance races are.
Johnson said, “I just was fascinated with an endurance race. I knew of Le Mans, but we had one here in the U.S., and cars and teams and drivers would come far and wide to participate. And it was just a feeling of what this race represented.”
USA Today via Reuters
Nov 8, 2020; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson (48) pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Obviously, the IndyCar series tops his list of priorities in 2021, so the Rolex 24 could be a one-off. However, the 7-time Cup Series champion wouldn’t be opposed to racing in other events.
This includes the Twelve Hours of Sebring or the Petit Le Mans, which does not clash with the 2021 IndyCar schedule. For now, Johnson is simply focusing on the new IndyCar season and will be eager to compete in the Rolex 24 race.
READ MORE- “We’ll See As 2021 Develops” – Jimmie Johnson Does Not Rule out the Idea of Running the Indy 500
