Snow, ice can’t slow Johnson, Herta

American Legion driver Jimmie Johnson went to Sweden to play in the snow and the ice with fellow NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Colton Herta. Both drivers came back with the second-place trophy in the annual Race of Champions Nations Cup.

Johnson, who drives the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, and Herta, driver of the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Autosport, represented Team USA. They competed on a snow- and ice-covered race course in Pite Havsbad, Sweden – an area that is just 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle.

Team USA finished second to the Team Norway duo of Petter and Oliver Solberg.

For someone who grew up in El Cajon, Calif., near San Diego, Johnson had a blast driving racing vehicles in the snow and ice. His co-driver was another Southern California kid; Herta is from Santa Clarita.

“Who would have thought two California guys would be here on snow and ice and finish second in the Race of Champions Nations Cup,” Johnson said via a social media video afterwards. “Awesome day for us both. I think we kind of surprised ourselves going rounds. Then I really think we had a shot at the final.

“I had a car break and a mechanical, which took me out of an opportunity in the first round. Came back and won in the Porsche. Colton was right there on pace and just came up a little short to the Solberg family. Just a super fun day. We exceeded expectations and looking forward to having some fun tonight.”

Johnson made his first ROC appearance in 15 years, and he was attempting to win it for the second time in his career.

Herta replaced the injured Travis Pastrana.

“He was watching with a group of friends at 5 a.m. in the States,” Johnson said of Pastrana. “He told us we’d go all the way, and we nearly did it. All the other drivers here have been really friendly and helpful too, offering us advice.

“But until you can actually sense the feel and grip and how a four-wheel-drive car helps pull you round the turn, it doesn’t stick. So, every lap has been making us better. Now after today I’m not so sure we’ll be given any more tips.”

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion won the Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2002, event, capturing the Nations Cup for Team USA with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon and MotoGP rider Colin Edwards in Gran Canaria, Spain (on a dirt track).

The Solbergs became the first family team to win the ROC as Petter, a three-time rally champion, won the Nations Cup for the second time.

Before the Race of Champions, both had raced last weekend in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where Herta claimed his second-class victory. Johnson was involved in a crash past the 12-hour mark and his team finished fifth in the DPi class.

In the Race of Champions “Snow + Ice” World Final event, Johnson and Herta competed against the field in a variety of vehicles, including some from rallycross, with a focus on electric power — a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, an RX Supercar Lites, an RX2e, an FC1-X and a Polaris PRO XP.

In Sunday’s Champions of Champions individual finals, both Johnson and Herta reached the quarterfinal round.

Herta fell to four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, and Johnson was defeated by nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen.

Vettel reached the final where champion rally legend Sebastien Loeb won this year’s Race of Champions titles. It’s the record-tying fourth Race of Champions title for the Frenchman, who beat Mattias Ekstrom to advance to the final.

“The Race of Champions is such a special event because you switch between different cars, so no one is very comfortable,” Johnson said. “You have to forget the experience and try to tackle what’s in front of you. On the start line I tried not to think about who I was racing, I just tried to stay within my means, be smart and drive the car.”

While Johnson had competed in the ROC before (winning the event in 2002), Herta was making his debut in place of injured Travis Pastrana. Johnson said Pastrana had called just before Saturday’s event to offer moral support.

Herta said the team celebrated as if they had won after winning in the first round Saturday. “Certainly, nobody could have thought we’d make it to the final, but we had a plan, we stuck to it and here we are,” Herta said according to the ROC site. “Our approach was just ‘Send it and see what happens.’”

Johnson defeated two-time champion Mika Hakkinen by three seconds Sunday in the individual Round of 16.

Herta advanced to the Round of 16 by eliminating fellow NTT IndyCar Series driver Helio Castroneves, whom he also had faced during the team competition Saturday.

Castroneves struggled with the winter weather just one week after the four-time Indy 500 winner had won his second-straight Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“Very cold,” the Brazilian exclaimed in an ROC social video. “Oh my God, this is ridiculous. I’m dying here!’

Johnson returns to the United States and will continue to prepare for his first full season in the NTT IndyCar Serie with Chip Ganassi Racing. After driving on the street and road courses as a 45-year-old rookie in 2021, Johnson will add the ovals to his schedule this year, including the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29.

The American Legion is the major associate sponsor on Johnson’s No. 48 Honda and will serve as the major sponsor in one of the races of the Iowa Speedway doubleheader in July. The American Legion will be the primary sponsor on Tony Kanaan’s Honda in the 106th Indianapolis 500.