Johnson becomes first NASCAR driver to have COVID-19
Seven-time champion will miss a race for first time in his two-decade career
Jimmie Johnson will miss a Cup Series race for the first time in 19 years after becoming the first NASCAR driver to test positive for the coronavirus.
Johnson’s team, Hendrick Motorsports, wrote in a statement that Johnson’s wife, Chandra, tested positive after dealing with allergy-like symptoms, prompting Johnson to get tested Friday morning even though he was asymptomatic.
The result knocks the seven-time Cup Series champion out of the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.
According to NASCAR, Johnson must be symptom-free, pass two COVID-19 tests separated by at least 24 hours and be cleared by a doctor before he will be allowed to resuming racing.
“My first priority is the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates,” Johnson said in a team statement. “I’ve never missed a race in my Cup career, but I know it’s going to be very hard to watch from the sidelines when I’m supposed to be out there competing. Although this situation is extremely disappointing, I’m going to come back ready to win races and put ourselves in playoff contention.”
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement, “Jimmie has handled this situation like the champion he is. We’re relieved he isn’t showing symptoms and that Chani is doing great, and we know he’ll be back and ready to go very soon. It’s going to be difficult for him to be out of the car and away from his team, but it’s the right thing to do for Jimmie and everyone involved.”
Justin Allgaier will be behind the wheel of Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet on Sunday at Indianapolis.
Johnson, 44, had been hoping for a record-tying fifth win in the event formerly known as the Brickyard 400. He won at Indianapolis in 2006, ‘08, ‘09 and ‘12. His former Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon holds the event record with five victories.
“Winning this race is one of the proudest I have been in my career,” Johnson said earlier this week. “There is so much effort that goes into the event back at the (race) shop. It’s high priority when you look at the race schedule. It’s a ring race. When I drive in there and see the pagoda, I get the goosebumps.”
Johnson, who previously announced that this would be his final season, has started 663 Cup Series events in a row, the longest active streak and the fifth-longest of all time. Gordon holds the record at 797. Johnson appeared in three Cup Series races in 2001, and he hasn’t missed a start since getting a full-time ride at the beginning of 2002.
NASCAR announced that it would grant Johnson a waiver into the Cup Series playoffs later this year. Johnson currently sits in 12th place in the standings, with the top 16 qualifying for the playoffs.
The Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 will be the Cup Series’ 12th event since the circuit restarted in mid-may following a two-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. No drivers had tested positive at the previous races.