Jimmie Johnson might be the next guy to do the “The Double” with NASCAR and IndyCar.
With the schedule for IndyCar GMR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course moved from May 9 to July 4, Jimmie Johnson told NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey that it “would be an awesome opportunity”. He said:
I think that would be an awesome opportunity. Clearly a lot of things to sort out, and I haven’t even asked permission yet to pull it off. But I love the idea and am so thankful Graham (Rahal) brought it up because I would have probably missed it and reacted too late.
IndyCar racer, Gramah Rahal brought up the idea by posting the schedule of IndyCar in his twitter account and tagging Jimmie Johnson in the tweet.
Hey @JimmieJohnson, you busy July 4th? #DoTheNewDouble https://t.co/W7lyCHIBgQ
— Graham Rahal (@GrahamRahal) March 26, 2020
Johnson, who was scheduled to test IndyCar at Barber Motorsports Park in April, said that he will “take a very hard look at” the event.
What’s funny is (Rahal) was texting me yesterday. I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, then I looked on Twitter and understood what he threw out there. I am so thankful he brought that up. I have not looked at the schedule. I know that IndyCar posted (a schedule), but with NASCAR’s schedule up in the air, my head wasn’t even around that.
So if that is the case, and those weekends do line up, I’ll take a very hard look at it.
Johnson explained that he would need the approval of Hendrick Motorsports for the idea to go through.
Definitely, there’s approvals on my side from my team, Mr. Hendrick, sponsors. It would be a Chevy, so that part would be pretty easy to pull off. That approval process would really be it.
I’d find out pretty quickly. I’m not sure I’d ever get the answer I wanted, but I’d find out quickly.
For now, Jimmie Johnson will be taking a virtual test in an IndyCar iRacing Challenge.