Johnson may get Arrow-McLaren IndyCar test later in year

Johnson is too old and slow to win in NASCAR anymore, so he is stepping down to IndyCar to give it a try. It could open the door to other retiring NASCAR drivers in the future

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said Friday during a team media availability when asked whether Johnson working with Ganassi would rule out Arrow McLaren SP test or a race seat, “It really just depends on the situation that we’d be presented with as to what we would do and when we would do it. He’s got a desire to get as much experience as possible. With the limited testing that looks like we’re going to be allowed, the more testing for Jimmie, the better wherever he ends up racing, so that certainly wouldn’t put us off.

During a Friday news conference, Johnson said there had been “a couple of conversations" about rescheduling the test with Ganassi.

“I think Ganassi and IndyCar are eager to have that experience to get me in a car and get me tested," Johnson said. “But everybody is giving everything a little time to breathe right now and maybe identify the next possible date that works for IndyCar and works for Ganassi.

“And I’m clearly hopeful to get a test with McLaren as I was trying to work on back in April that went away because of the lockdown. So, I think that’s all to come. It’s hard to say anything’s really taking place just yet, but I know I’m eager and I know everybody involved is eager for that to take place."

“Anytime you can put a seven-time champion of anything in your racing car, that’s always a lot of fun," Brown said. “He did a great job in our Formula One car, so if schedules allow, timing allows, then we’d love to have a go. Our priority is exclusively on (IndyCar drivers) Oliver (Askew) and Pato (O’Ward). So that’s all on our mind at the moment.

“But later in the year, at the end of the year, if it makes sense, it would be great to see what (Johnson) can do in an IndyCar."