IndyCar rookie Jimmie Johnson is hopeful of testing in August on the oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway as a part of a path towards working in subsequent 12 months’s Indianapolis 500.

Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, jumped this season to IndyCar and has competed in seven races for staff proprietor Chip Ganassi. He is set to race once more subsequent weekend at Nashville. Johnson hasn’t completed higher than nineteenth this season.

Johnson, 45, solely needed to drive highway and avenue programs this 12 months however has the will to drive at Indy subsequent season. Johnson must full the Rookie Orientation Program later this 12 months required to race on the Indy oval.

Johnson saved an eye fixed on fellow IndyCar rookie Romain Grosjean’s oval take a look at Tuesday at World Broad Know-how Raceway exterior St. Louis. Grosjean, a former Method One driver, dedicated solely to the highway and avenue course races, identical to Johnson.

Johnson texted Grosjean on Tuesday and requested for tips about dealing with the oval course.

“I am looking for my consolation with the ovals,” Johnson mentioned. “I feel he is in an identical place. We have each been chatting over the course of the 12 months about ovals. Actually, concerning the expertise altogether. I get increasingly more comfy with ovals. Hopefully, the take a look at, when it occurs in late August, will go effectively and I will proceed to work nearer towards the Indy 500 or ovals typically.”

Johnson’s seven NASCAR championships are tied with Corridor of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Johnson mentioned there needs to be carryover from his NASCAR profession in Indianapolis to when he makes an attempt the open wheel run on the Brickyard.

“Of all of the tracks we run on,” Johnson mentioned, “there needs to be some crossover on the oval. I discovered there was zero crossover on the highway programs, in order that was fascinating.”

Johnson will miss solely the Aug. 21 race on the monitor exterior St. Louis the remainder of the IndyCar season. That monitor is a mile oval. Johnson, who labored the Indy 500 this 12 months as an analyst for NBC, shares the No 48 this season with Tony Kanaan. Kanaan will drive the ovals once more in 2022.

Used to the extra grueling NASCAR schedule, Johnson is slated for 12 highway and avenue course races and he skipped the 4 oval races.

“I’ve actually needed to decelerate this 12 months and take a look at one thing new,” Johnson mentioned. “Each of these issues are positively taking place.”