February 22, 2022

Jimmie Johnson back on the streets of St. Pete

By Bruce Martin
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Jimmie Johnson back on the streets of St. Pete
48 Car driver Jimmie Johnson.  (Photo by Bruce Martin)

American Legion driver Jimmie Johnson and Chip Ganassi Racing return for duty this weekend in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

American Legion driver Jimmie Johnson and Chip Ganassi Racing return for duty this weekend in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. It’s the first race of the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season and for Johnson, it is the start of full-time deployment in every race on the 17-race schedule.

Johnson’s rookie season in INDYCAR with Chip Ganassi Racing was on the streets and road courses on the schedule. This year, he adds ovals to the mix, including the biggest race of them all – the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29.

The American Legion is the major associate sponsor on Johnson’s No. 48 Carvana Honda.

Johnson was one of NASCAR’s all-time great drivers with a record-tying seven Cup Series titles and 83 victories. When he switched to INDYCAR last year, he had to learn a completely different type of race car that raced much differently than the heavier Chevrolet stock cars at Hendrick Motorsports.

Last year’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg was just the second race of the Johnson’s INDYCAR career. He started 23rd and finished 22nd.

By the midway point of the season, however, Johnson had developed more experience in the Indy car and that gave him more confidence as he showed steady progress in each ensuing race.

That makes him more confident that he is ready to continue that forward progression in his second season in INDYCAR with Chip Ganassi Racing, Carvana and The American Legion.

“I’m so much more comfortable and confident,” Johnson said. “I think my performance at the end of the year suggests and really reflects the learning that I did over the course of the season. To add to that, we had two races on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, and from race one to race two, my comfort level was four or five times more than it was the first go-around.

“I’m very excited for year number two. There will be some new circuits for me. I have not been to Toronto yet, the ovals, some of them – Iowa I've never been to oddly enough. I didn't run the Xfinity car there or anything, so that will be another new track for me.

“I’m excited to get back. Second time around at a track, to know the nuances of the track, to have notes to work off of, to have video to work off of, those things really make a big difference.”

The 45-year-old from El Cajon, Calif., spent practically his entire professional career driving stock cars. But he admits his first love was always the high-speed, thoroughbred machines in INDYCAR.

After spending so much time in NASCAR, does Johnson feel like an INDYCAR driver now?

“I don't think I totally do yet,” he admitted. “There are aspects of it that I do feel like I'm in this kind of family and been very well welcomed into the family, but the freedom as a driver to say, ‘Yeah, I'm one of the boys,’ I don't think that I'm quite there yet. I think at the end of the year I was a lot closer, but I hope to have that moment sooner than later.

“Ironically it took me a while to feel that way in NASCAR, too. I think it wasn't until like I won a championship before I really had that at-ease feeling and felt like I really belonged to be out there.”

Practice for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is Friday from 3:40 to 4:25 p.m. Eastern on the streets of St. Pete. Another round of practice on Saturday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Eastern preceding the knockout round of qualifications Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Eastern.

The season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is Sunday at noon on NBC.

INDYCAR races are a great time to participate in The American Legion’s Buddy Check program. Call a fellow Legion member and head to the local American Legion post to watch the race on TV.

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