Since stepping away from NASCAR, the seven-time Cup Series champion has raced full-time in IndyCar, earned podiums in some of the most prestigious endurance races on the IMSA schedule, and even took part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed. One could hardly call it a retirement.
He’s no doubt been busy, and the 47-year-old has no plans of slowing down next year. He joins Petty GMS Motorsports as a co-owner of the No. 42 and No. 43 Chevrolet Camaros for the 2023 season. He will drive a third car in a handful of races too, including the season-opening Daytona 500. If he makes the show, it will be Johnson‘s 20th appearance in NASCAR’s biggest race.
“When I left here, I really had no idea what was in store for me,” said Johnson on Friday. “I knew I wanted to try IndyCar, and an amazing experience there, and stepping away from full-time IndyCar, I wanted to create, get an eight to ten race schedule, just really fun races, and certainly coming back to NASCAR.
“As this conversation started, it’s one that I really had to pay close attention to, an offer, an opportunity that’s just a life-changing opportunity for me and one that I had to take. So I’m very excited about this.”
Earlier this year, Johnson made his Indianapolis 500 debut, starting 12th and finishing 28th after a late-race incident.
Looking forward, he still wants to run a handful of IndyCar and sports car races. And that’s not all.
“Still interested in the sports car, IndyCar,” he said on Friday. “I’ve got an awesome opportunity to race an off-road truck if I want. Alex Bowman has offered me a Chili Bowl ride. The invites keep coming in.
“I have been solely focused on this and don’t know the impact of this commitment and relationship and how that plays out. But once the dust settles from here, I’ll get deeper into those other conversations and try to build out the best race schedule I can have that does fit with the new commitment and obligation that I have here. That’s something that will certainly play into all that.”
However, returning full-time to the NASCAR Cup Series is not something he’s looking to do.
He also says the 24 Hours of Le Mans (likely with the Garage 56 entry) is “still on the table. I’ve made sure that my calendar is nice and open in June, and hopefully it can stay that way.”
Petty GMS Motorsports Press conference with Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
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