Jimmie gets IndyCar sponsor

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jimmie Johnson needed funding for his move to IndyCar, so the seven- time NASCAR champion transitioned into a salesman for the first time.

He’ll continue selling next year as representative for the online auto retailer Carvana.

Johnson and Chip Ganassi Racing announced Carvana — the company known for multistory car vending machines — as the sponsor Saturday for the No. 48 Honda that Johnson will drive in 13 road and street course IndyCar races.

It’s a striking partnership in that Johnson has spent the last 19 seasons driving for Rick Hendrick, one of the largest car dealers in the country. Johnson sought Hendrick’s blessing before signing the deal.

“I’ve had him in the loop from the beginning,” Johnson told the Associated Press ahead of the announcement at the IndyCar season finale. “In typical Rick fashion, he was great with it, and he knows how hard it is to raise sponsorship money.”

Johnson will retire from full- time NASCAR competition after the season finale next month. The 45- year- old is tied with Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt with a record seven Cup titles.

He grew up initially wanting to compete in the IndyCar Series, an opportunity Ganassi offered him for 2021 providing they could find the funding. Johnson and his own management team shopped for sponsorship, with Johnson personally engaging with 44 prospects.

It’s the first time he’s doing the actual selling of his own brand. Johnson was hired by Hendrick in 2001 at the height of NASCAR’s robust sponsorship landscape.

Companies were signing multimillion- dollar deals to splash their logos on race cars, and team owners had no problem funding full seasons. Lowe’s signed on for a long- term deal with Hendrick Motorsports in 2001 for a new No. 48 entry piloted by a relatively unknown Johnson.

The company was Johnson’s only sponsor for his first 17 seasons before Lowe’s left NASCAR. Hendrick’s sales team found Ally, which has sponsored Johnson the last two seasons and made the initial introduction between Johnson and Carvana.