Jimmie Johnson
FILE - In this May 14, 2021, file photo, Jimmie Johnson climbs out of his car following practice for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Johnson is hopeful of testing in August at Homestead-Miami Speedway as part of a path toward running in the Indianapolis 500 in 2022. The seven-time NASCAR champion jumped this season to IndyCar and has competed in seven races for team owner Chip Ganassi. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Indycar rookie Johnson aims for Indianapolis 500 run in 2022

By Dan Gelston Jul. 27, 2021 06:32 PM EDT

Josef Newgarden leads the field after taking the green flag at the start of an IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Sunday, July 4, 2021. Newgarden snapped his streak of late race misfortunes Sunday to win for the first time this season, earning the first IndyCar victory of the year for Team Penske on the same weekend the storied organization celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first win. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
IndyCar inks new NBC Sports deal, 2 races to run on Peacock

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 20, 2021 09:30 AM EDT

FILE - Car owner Rick Hendrick, right, congratulates Kyle Larson in victory lane after Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., in this Sunday, May 30, 2021, file photo. Rick Hendrick gave Kyle Larson a second chance in NASCAR because Hendrick Motorsports had wanted him in its lineup for years. Now that Hendrick has his man, he's locked Larson down for two more seasons with full sponsorship. Hendrick on Wednesday, July 14, told his 93 dealerships that the hottest driver in motorsports signed a contract extension through 2023 and Larson will be fully sponsored by HendrickCars.com. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
Kyle Larson lands extension, full sponsorship through 2023

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 14, 2021 11:30 AM EDT

Race fans decorated their camp site at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to congratulate local IndyCar owner Michael Shank on winning the Indianapolis 500, Saturday, July 3, 2021 in Lexington, Ohio. Shank’s team is based 50 miles away from the race track in Pataskala and considers Mid-Ohio his home track. Mid-Ohio is hosting IndyCar on the Fourth of July for the first time in track history. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
IndyCar embraces Americana charm at Mid-Ohio for holiday

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 03, 2021 04:56 PM EDT

Rinus VeeKay (21) and Ryan Hunter-Reay (28) race off pit lane during the first race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Saturday, June 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
VeeKay, Rosenqvist make IndyCar return, Newgarden out front

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 02, 2021 12:10 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, right, driver of car 48, celebrates with his crew after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Bowman zips past Larson after late flat and wins at Pocono

By Dan Gelston Jun. 26, 2021 06:10 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 27, 2020, file photo, Kevin Harvick celebrates in the winners circle after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick flipped their 1-2 finish in Pocono’s doubleheader weekend last year but they each come back for this weekend’s races winless and trying to chase Kyle Larson. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, FileP
Harvick, Hamlin try at Pocono to end long losing streaks

By Dan Gelston Jun. 25, 2021 05:14 PM EDT

Kyle Larson walks back to his car with the checkered flag after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Hendrick gets plenty of mileage from his gamble on Larson

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 24, 2021 04:08 PM EDT

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands reacts after winning the French Formula One Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet, southern France, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (Nicolas Tucat/Pool via AP)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR's Kyle Larson chasing history at Pocono

By The Associated Press Jun. 23, 2021 02:01 PM EDT

FILE - Jeff Gordon, right, celebrates his victory with team owner Rick Hendrick after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., in this Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, file photo. Jeff Gordon will leave the Fox Sports booth for a daily role at Hendrick Motorsports as vice chairman ranked second only to majority owner Rick Hendrick. The new job positions the four-time champion and Hall of Famer to eventually succeed Hendrick at the top of NASCAR’s winningest organization. (AP Photo/Bob Brodbeck, File)
Gordon to leave Fox Sports booth for daily role at Hendrick

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 23, 2021 01:47 PM EDT

Alex Palou celebrates his victory in an IndyCar race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Palou makes late surge to win IndyCar race at Road America

By Steve Megargee Jun. 20, 2021 03:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 12, 2021, file photo, Josef Newgarden drives during the first race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit. Newgarden won the pole position Saturday, June 19, for Sunday’s IndyCar race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Newgarden earns pole for IndyCar race at Road America

By Steve Megargee Jun. 19, 2021 04:34 PM EDT

Romain Grosjean races during the first race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Saturday, June 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Grosjean tops first IndyCar practice at Road America

Jun. 18, 2021 07:12 PM EDT

Alex Bowman walks from his garage before qualifying in seventh position for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 29, 2021 in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)
Alex Bowman inks 2-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 18, 2021 11:31 AM EDT

Chase Elliott drives down the front stretch during a NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, June 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)
NASCAR All-Star race will be Texas-sized sendoff for Gossage

By Stephen Hawkins Jun. 12, 2021 02:06 PM EDT

Jimmie Johnson practices for the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Friday, June 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Johnson struggling at Detroit, trying to stay out of the way

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 12, 2021 01:34 PM EDT

Pato O'Ward waits before practice for the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Friday, June 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Palou shakes off Indy defeat, takes points lead to Detroit

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 11, 2021 07:23 PM EDT

File-This May 15, 2021, file photo shows Romain Grosjean, of Switzerland, celebrating after finishing second in an IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Grosjean turned in his key to Indianapolis Motor Speedway — yes, he had his own key to the place — packed up his motorhome and headed out Tuesday toward Detroit for his next United States adventure. The man who walked through fire and lived to tell about has fully embraced his move from Formula One to IndyCar, where he won the pole in his third career start then led 44 laps on the road course at Indianapolis before finishing second. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
On the road again: Romain Grosjean thriving in IndyCar

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 09, 2021 02:30 AM EDT

Driver Denny Hamlin, right, talks to Rick Hendrick before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Larson gives Hendrick record-breaking win at Coca-Cola 600

By Steve Reed May. 30, 2021 07:35 PM EDT

The helmet of Simona De Silvestro, of Switzerland, shows a logo during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 20, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
NBC hopes for more IndyCar as contract comes to an end

By Jenna Fryer May. 26, 2021 05:54 PM EDT