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A seven-time NASCAR Cup champion, Johnson put down a well-beaten
path to the stock car series winner's circle, but on Sunday he
will take on the Brickyard's notorious oval for the first time
in a bid to join AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti as the only drivers
to win both the Indy and Daytona 500s.
The pull of new adventures can bring purpose to accomplished
drivers like the 46-year-old Johnson who is not viewing the Indy
500 as a one-off but a launch pad to a second career.
"I'm loving this experience, loving IndyCar," said Johnson, who
qualified 12th for Sunday's 106th Indy 500. "I would stick
around as long as I could.
"I don't know what that number would be, I hope this isn't my
one and only Indianapolis 500 start, I hope this isn't my one
and only full-time season in the IndyCar Series either.
"I don't know what that looks like but I am going to do
everything in my power to be doing this for years to come."
The jump from Formula One to IndyCar is not a great leap. Many
drivers from Mario Andretti to Jacques Villeneuve and Romain
Grosjean have made the move.
There are other avenues open to more and more drivers, with many
dabbling in sportscars, some attracted to rallying and a few
intrigued by NASCAR.
Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen is just the
latest, announcing on Thursday he will make his return to racing
in August in the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen.
For a few drivers a change is an opportunity to make history.
Formula One double-world champion Fernando Alonso famously left
the glamour circuit in pursuit of motor racing's triple crown of
victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 Hours and the
Indianapolis 500.
The Spaniard won Monaco (twice) and Le Mans but failed twice at
his bid for the Indy 500 before returning to Formula One with
French outfit Alpine
Aside from aiming to become just the third driver to win the
Daytona and Indy 500s, Johnson is also flirting with the idea of
another rare motor racing double - running both the Indianapolis
500 and NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 which are held the same day.
"It's always been an interest of mine," admitted Johnson. "I
don't have anything in motion but just admired it from afar over
the years watching John Andretti do it once, and Kurt (Busch) do
it once and Tony Stewart do it."
"It's always been on my radar, Not sure if it can ever happen
but certainly would be something I am open to it."
(Reporting by Steve Keating; editing by Richard Pullin)
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