September 07, 2022

Johnson heads to Laguna Seca for INDYCAR Series season finale

By Bruce Martin
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Johnson heads to Laguna Seca for INDYCAR Series season finale
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In his second INDYCAR season, one showing marked improvement, Johnson returns to track where he had one of best finishes of 2021. 

Jimmie Johnson ends his second season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES by reuniting with the famed “Corkscrew” at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.

“The Corkscrew” is one of the most unique series of turns in racing and is the iconic feature of the 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course that features a hair-raising 180 feet in elevation change.

It comes at the end of the Rahal Straight and is on the other side of a blind hill, where the high-speed Indy cars fly over the crest, then make a downhill plunge into turns 8 and 8A, which are twisting turns. It was nicknamed the “Corkscrew” in honor of the many wineries in this beautiful Central Coastal region of California.

As an NTT INDYAR SERIES rookie driver in 2021, Johnson was able to master the “Corkscrew” at the end of last year’s race, passing such drivers as four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and James Hinchcliffe in that area of the track.

It was one of Johnson’s best races in 2021 when he started 25th in the 27-car field and finished 17th.

The newly inducted Sons of The American Legion member is ready to complete his second season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in the No. 48 Carvana/American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing in Sunday’s final race of the season.

That means a return to “The Corkscrew.”

“There is nothing like it,” Johnson said. “The ascent up to the Corkscrew is much steeper than TV would ever suggest, then you have this short, little flat section to get the car stopped.

“Once you turn in, you blindly take a guess at where you are going to position the car based on an Oak Tree that is sitting on the outside of the final turn of the Corkscrew, then add the element of trying to pass a car in there, it’s a compressed area to get stuff done.

“It’s really a lot of fun to drive, especially when you make a competitive pass up there.”

In 2021, Johnson was a 45-year-old INDYCAR rookie after becoming a NASCAR Cup Series legend with seven series championships.

His first race was at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama in April 2021 and quickly realized the huge difference between NASCAR and INDYCAR.

In 2022, the 46-year-old Johnson competed in every race on the INDYCAR schedule and made significant improvement.

“I’m light years ahead of that first race at Barber in 2021, but I still have a long way to go,” Johnson said. “I feel like I’m in a better place now. I feel the car correctly, give the right input, know where the turns are, know where to park my rental car when I show up at the track.

“There are many elements of this that are much easier now and I feel a part of INDYCAR.”

By competing in every INDYCAR race in 2022, Johnson was able to help spread the word for The American Legions “Be The One” campaign to help prevent veteran suicide.

It also helped him become closer to the INDYCAR community.

“It’s been great,” Johnson said. “I’ve honestly had a great time to run the full schedule. To be embedded with Chip Ganassi Racing week-in and week-out, my teammates, this paddock, to be a part of this community has really been fun. I got to experience the Indy 500, the weeks being there, the buildup and the pageantry that goes into it. All in all, it’s been a great experience.

“I have made some gains behind the wheel on street and road courses, although I wish they were a bit more significant, but I’m still making gains. To introduce the ovals this year, to be in the top-five and finish in the top-10 and be in the mix, that was a lot of fun as well.”

Two of Johnson’s teammates at Chip Ganassi Racing are in serious contention for the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. Six-time INDYCAR champion Scott Dixon enters Sunday’s race third in the standings, 20 points behind Team Penske’s Will Power. Another Ganassi driver, Marcus Ericsson, is fourth in the standings, 39 points out of the lead.

The championship finale will be televised on NBC Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

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