‘I want to go to Le Mans,’ NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson is all in to make his Le Mans debut with Hendrick Motorsports in 2023
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Jimmie Johnson
The iconic and one of the most prestigious motorsports races in the world, the premier endurance race event, the 24 hours of le Mans came in agreement with NASCAR and its dominant team in the recent years Hendrick Motorsports which enables the team to make its Le Mans debut with the next-Gen car. The proposed plan is to enable HMS’s entry by the Garage 56 initiative, a special single-entry class reserved for innovative cars aimed at giving new innovation an opportunity without taking away spots from traditional entrants.
One of the most asked questions in the NASCAR scene, following this rather controversial announcement, was which driver will take the wheels for the HMS camp. NASCAR legend and 7 times cup series champion Jimmie Johnson alongside the reigning cup series champion Kyle Larson was the prominent names that came forth for a chance behind the wheels. One of the major concerns for HMS will be to get their schedule right as it might co-inside with their NASCAR schedule.
Jimmie Johnson the 85 times NASCAR cup race winner has been a full-time IndyCar series driver since this season and has already made more than 20 race entries along with his Indy500 debut, has been very open about his wish to join the Le Man’s line for HMS. Now the Hall of Famer has expressed his plan to join the initiative as he waits for the 2022 IndyCar series schedule.
Find out what Jimmie Johnson said
Jimmie Johnson acknowledged that he is still waiting for the IndyCar schedule to come out as he is pushing behind the scenes with the IndyCar president and other officials to get an understanding of how it might be. He said that he wants to go to the Le Mans as it would be an amazing experience for him to do that with HMS. Jimmie Johnson added that the schedule will have much influence on deciding which drivers will get the chance in the No:56 car.
“I’m still eagerly awaiting the (IndyCar) schedule. I’m pushing behind the scenes to (IndyCar President) Jay Fry 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,” Jimmie Johnson said.
“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,” Jimmie Johnson added.
Jimmie Johnson went on to say that he is thankful for the fact that he was able to have a few conversations with HMS regarding their interest to get him in as he also has a ton of interest to get on board with them. He went on to add that he is just waiting for the first domino to fall, the schedule as both sides have high interest from both sides. He acknowledges that the formal talks have stalled since the schedule is due.
“I’m thankful to have had a few conversations with them (Hendrick and Action Express) 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,” says Jimmie Johnson.
“I feel like the interest is really high on both sides. We haven’t been able to talk anything more formal because the schedule is not out,” added Jimmie Johnson.
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