Jimmie Johnson to try his personal model of Indy 500 & NASCAR doubleheader
INDIANAPOLIS — Jimmie Johnson will try his personal model of “The Double” when he turns into the primary driver to be a part of the Indianapolis 500 broadcast staff hours earlier than he competes in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600.
Johnson, who ran the Indy 500 in 2022, was a part of NBC Sports activities’ broadcast sales space in 2021 when he ran solely the street and avenue programs on IndyCar’s schedule. He added ovals in his second and remaining season in American open-wheel racing.
NBC mentioned Tuesday that Johnson shall be a part of the printed staff at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Could 26 race. It is going to be the primary of recurring analyst alternatives for Johnson with the community this 12 months.
“To have the chance to expertise ‘The Biggest Spectacle in Racing’ as soon as once more is such an honor,” Johnson mentioned. “I used to be a part of the NBC broadcast staff in 2021 and it simply fueled the fireplace I wanted to make my childhood dream of racing within the Indianapolis 500 in the future a actuality. Competing on this race as a driver was an opportunity of a lifetime, so to have the ability to expertise the pageantry once more is simply so particular.”
Johnson will fly to Charlotte, North Carolina, after the Indy 500 to compete in NASCAR’s longest race of the 12 months. The Corridor of Famer gained the Coca-Cola 600 4 occasions as a full-time NASCAR driver. Johnson now races a partial schedule as co-owner of Legacy Motor Membership.
For NBC, Johnson will even be an analyst later this season for NASCAR races at Daytona and Talladega, in addition to races he is schedule to compete in.
“Any time you possibly can add one of many biggest drivers of all time and an icon of the game, you soar on the alternative,” mentioned Sam Flood, lead producer for NBC Sports activities’ motorsports protection. “We’re thrilled to be working with Jimmie and including his distinctive perspective on each race he covers, in addition to having him turn out to be the primary individual ever to do the ‘Double’ — historical past awaits.”
Kyle Larson will turn out to be the fifth driver to try to finish each the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day. Tony Stewart in 2001 grew to become the one driver to finish all 1,100-miles of racing.
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