The Racing Capital of the World would have been a huge sporting event this weekend but the Coronavirus is not playing. No fans!!! A double-header is going down at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with IndyCar rockin’ on Saturday and NASCAR gettin’ busy on Sunday.
What would have been the seven-time NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson’s, final Brickyard, is now something he’ll simply have to watch from quarantine. Johnson is planning to retire from full-time racing at the end of the season.
He was tested earlier Friday after his wife, Chani, tested positive after experiencing allergy-like symptoms. Johnson is asymptomatic and that’s what makes this virus so illusive.
Folks are literally walking around without knowing that they are positive for the virus.
“My first priority is the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates,” Johnson said. “I’ve never missed a race in my Cup career, but I know it’s going to be very hard to watch from the sidelines when I’m supposed to be out there competing. Although this situation is extremely disappointing, I’m going to come back ready to win races and put ourselves in playoff contention.”
Johnson will now have to watch the race from home on Sunday and he’ll also miss next week’s race in Kentucky. Ole boy was trying to tie Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher as the only five-time winners at Indianapolis. That won’t happen unless he jumps back into a car next year and runs at the Brickyard. We’ll just have to wait and see.
He’s the first driver at any level of NASCAR to test positive for the virus.
He’s made 663 consecutive Cup series starts — the longest streak among active drivers and is 12th in the standings, 63 points inside the playoff picture. NASCAR’s rules state that a driver must be symptom-free and have two negative coronavirus tests in a 24-hour span to return.
Sit in the cut because Jimmie Johnson will return this season and give these boyz a run for their money. Stop me when I start lyin’!