BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jimmie Johnson hopped on a scooter and navigated his method via an unfamiliar Alabama paddock. He stopped to lean towards a stack of tires for a fast dialog with childhood hero Rick Mears then went to work on his new profession.

The seven-time NASCAR champion turned 22 laps within the first IndyCar apply of the season Saturday morning. He was slowest of the 24-car discipline however was thrilled with the expertise.

“Superb. What a rush,” Johnson stated. “These automobiles are so bodily, so demanding. It is not two or three laps in and tongues hanging out panting, simply wrestling this monster across the racetrack. Enjoyable meter is pegged, to say the least.”

Johnson might be a 45-year-old rookie when he takes the inexperienced flag Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park, a everlasting street course positioned roughly 40 minutes from Talladega Superspeedway, the place Johnson gained twice in his storied NASCAR profession.

However he needed a brand new problem, and he’ll get that in IndyCar.

Johnson is a part of a stacked rookie class that features former Components One driver Romain Grosjean, racing for the primary time this weekend since he was badly burned in a November crash in Bahrain, and three-time defending Australian Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin.

McLaughlin was eighth quickest in first apply whereas Grosjean, who turned 35 on Saturday, was twenty first.

It was Alex Palou, a second-year IndyCar driver however in his first season with Chip Ganassi Racing, who led the session. The Spaniard has been quick via preseason testing and outpaced the four-driver lineup of six-time champion Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and Johnson all winter.

Colton Herta was second quickest in apply, adopted by Josef Newgarden, Dixon, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and Will Power.

There’s a second apply Saturday afternoon adopted by a night qualifying session.

Sunday’s race is bought out with capability capped at 20,000 attendees — a determine that features spectators and distributed credentials to sponsors, distributors, race personnel and volunteers.