O'Ward sets track record at Barber, Johnson ready for debut

FILE - Haas driver Romain Grosjean, of France, poses for a photo at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, in this Thursday, March 12, 2020, file photo. The IndyCar season begins with three new drivers for the season-opener at Barber Motorsports Park. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will be a 45-year-old rookie in a class that includes Romain Grosjean from Formula One and V8 Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

In this image provided by IndyCar, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson,left, speaks to four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears before the first IndyCar practice session of the season, Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. Johnson will be an IndyCar rookie this season and make his series debut in Sunday’s opener. Mears was his childhood hero. (Joe Skibinski/IndyCar via AP)

FILE - NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, left, and Indycar driver Scott Dixon, right, talk during practice for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this May 16, 2019, file photo. Three-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti sits, second from left. The IndyCar season begins with three new drivers, including seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Pato O'Ward, of Mexico, sits in his car during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Pato O'Ward of Mexico speaks to reporters after driving during IndyCar auto race testing at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero)