Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar team won’t test Jimmie Johnson until October

Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar team managing director Taylor Kiel said Thursday in a media conference call the team is solely focused on trying to position young driver Pato O’Ward for a chance to catch defending series champion Josef Newgarden for 2nd in the points over the final seven weeks of the season.

Therefore, any test drive for retiring NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson will have to wait until the season is over in October.

We’re focused on closing out this championship. We’ve got a shot. It’s a long shot with Mr. Dixon doing what he does on a day-to-day basis, but we’re battling till the very end,” Kiel said. “And that takes a lot of focus and effort on our part, so that’s really where our energy and effort is focused right now.

“And I think if you ask Jimmie, he’d probably say the same thing. He’s trying to close out his season in the best way possible and then see where things go for him and for us.”