The nerves hit Jimmie Johnson as he stood on the beginning grid earlier than the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The seven-time NASCAR champion is starting a brand new chapter of his profession — at 45 years outdated — in unfamiliar race automobiles. He was tabbed to begin essentially the most prestigious sports activities automotive race in America for his Motion Specific group and Johnson had only one objective for his first stint within the Cadillac.

“Definitely did not wish to break the toy within the first couple of hours,” Johnson stated after driving about 70 minutes Saturday round Daytona Worldwide Speedway.

He gave the No. 48 over to teammate Simon Pagenaud after which turned to Kamui Kobayashi, the two-time reigning winner of the Rolex 24, for an animated debrief.

Johnson, slightly greater than two months eliminated as essentially the most dominant NASCAR driver of the final 20 years, has “jumped into the deep finish of the pool with weights on my ankles” as he transitions into new formulation of racing. This Rolex 24 is the eighth of his profession however first in a decade, and it is a warmup for his transfer to IndyCar, the place he’ll be a rookie in a subject stacked with drivers half his age.

His profession change has made for a busy offseason of testing alongside a number of the prime drivers on the earth, and the calls for have lit a spark in Johnson. He was winless within the last three seasons of his NASCAR profession.

“I do know the world that I am getting into, and I do know what I walked away from and the consolation that I had there, and I am very conscious of how uncomfortable I’m going to be getting into this new enviornment, and it makes me really feel alive,” Johnson stated. “I’m so excited to be uncomfortable and so excited to study one thing new, so excited to drive these automobiles and actually type of develop as a driver and have a bunch of latest experiences in life.

“It makes me really feel extra alive than I’ve in fairly a while.”

The Rolex started with a wholesome subject of fifty automobiles, a robust rebound after a event-low 38 entries final season. Daytona officers stated infield attendance could be restricted for the occasion however didn’t launch a capability quantity. Campers had been solely permitted in motorhomes with tents banned and masks required on property.

Alegra Motorsports introduced proper earlier than the race started that driver Michael de Quesada examined optimistic for COVID-19 and had left the speedway to self isolate. He was changed within the Mercedes competing within the GT Daytona class by Mike Skeen.

In any other case, the occasion went on as scheduled. The halfway bustled with followers visiting producer shows, the Ferris Wheel was up and working and most of the finest highway course racers on the earth had been longing for the twice-round-the-clock endurance occasion.

Johnson held his personal in his first stint driving the Cadillac and the Motion Specific entry, fielded partly with Hendrick Motorsports and sponsored by Ally, has a strong probability on the general win. His group should cope with the full-time Motion Specific entry, which introduced in reigning NASCAR champion Chase Elliott for his sports activities automotive debut.

Hendrick despatched a handful of its staff to Daytona, together with former Johnson crew chief Chad Knaus and Jeff Gordon, who was a part of the Rolex successful group in 2017 for Wayne Taylor Racing. Johnson climbed atop the pit stand after his drive to talk with each Elliott and Gordon.

Wayne Taylor Racing returned to Daytona as winner of the final two Rolex 24’s, in addition to three of the final 4 relationship to Gordon’s win. However the group switched from Cadillac to Acura throughout the offseason and continues to be adjusting to the transfer. The transition has been eased by drivers Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi, who all piloted the Acura the final three years for Group Penske.

However the Cadillacs — there are 4 within the seven-car DPi class — have thus far been leaders of the pack. The Motion Specific entry with Elliott within the lineup began from the pole after successful final weekend’s qualifying race, and Chip Ganassi Racing has not proven any indicators of rust after a 12 months out of the sequence.

The Ganassi entry was the general race chief slightly over two hours within the race behind starter Renger van der Zande, who together with Kobayashi gained two-straight with WTR and each are searching for to develop into the primary driver to win three consecutive Rolex watches.

Ganassi, who has eight Rolex victories, can also be utilizing reigning IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and Kevin Magnussen, who moved to sports activities automobiles after seven seasons in Components One.

As Dixon awaited his flip within the automotive, he marveled on the job Johnson has performed over the past two months. Dixon and Johnson will likely be Ganassi teammates in IndyCar.

“I feel lots of people, what they see, particularly on our group, is simply his work ethic and he grinds out every little thing,” Dixon stated. “He is simply attempting to rise up to hurry as fast as doable. This in all probability must be the largest activity for anyone that has ever tried going from polar reverse ends of motorsport.”

Johnson acknowledged he is an outdated canine attempting to study new tips.

“It has been enjoyable actually difficult myself behind the wheel in a wholly new approach,” Johnson stated. “These high-downforce automobiles, it is simply plenty of enjoyable, primary, and only a large problem to rewire all of the issues I’ve discovered from driving the heavy sedans.”