Johnson eyeing IndyCar, IMSA and Le Mans for 2023 schedule

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — From Italy to Iowa to the simulator and finally the Finger Lakes, there’s been no rest for Jimmie Johnson. He heads this weekend to Watkins Glen for one of this final two scheduled appearances in the IMSA sports car.

Then he’ll turn his attention to planning his 2023 schedule, which Johnson hopes includes a spot in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet plan to take a stock car to Le Mans next June in a special Garage 56 class designed to showcase the innovation of NASCAR's new Next Gen model. The prestigious endurance race is scheduled for June 10-11, or two weeks after the Indianapolis 500.

Johnson wants to be part of the lineup but his participation, he said, is dependent on the 2023 IndyCar schedule — an indicator the seven-time NASCAR champion still very much plans a third season of open-wheel racing.

Johnson copped this week to “behind-the-scenes” pushing of IndyCar president Jay Frye to ensure the series is off during Le Mans.

“I want to go to Le Mans. But I think so much hinges on the schedule being released to understand if I can," Johnson said. "I know that there’s interest. I certainly have a ton of interest to do it. We’re just waiting for that first domino to fall.”

Johnson, who drove for Rick Hendrick for nearly two decades, believes he's on the list of Le Mans candidates.

“I feel like the interest is really high on both sides," he added. "We haven’t been able to talk anything more formal because the schedule is not out.”

With everything in limbo, Johnson has turned to the dog days of his current racing schedule. IndyCar raced five consecutive weeks before a two-week break, which allowed Johnson to take his wife and two daughters to Italy for a quick vacation.

But the 46-year-old had to head back for a Monday test at Iowa Speedway, a rare oval that Johnson has never before raced. He was bleary-eyed and chugging coffee during a media session this week explaining how his next stop was the simulator to prepare for this weekend's Six Hours of the Glen, the third of four IMSA endurance races Johnson built into his schedule in an alliance between Hendrick, Action Express Racing and sponsor Ally.

Johnson missed the Twelve Hours of Sebring in March because it conflicted with IndyCar's stop at Texas Motor Speedway, his open-wheel debut on an oval, so his return to the No. 48 Cadillac this weekend is a reunion with teammates Mike Rockenfeller and Kamui Kobayashi.