Seven-time Cup champ Jimmie Johnson returns to Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As retirements go, Jimmie Johnson’s hiatus from NASCAR could best be compared to the dating rationalization, “We were on a break.”

True, in the two years after Johnson said goodbye to fulltime racing on the stock-car circuit, he cheated on the sport that made him famous by running Indy and IMSA cars. He ran in the Indianapolis 500 and finished no better than 19th in two tries. This year, he even plans to drive in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

But now, Johnson has doubled down on his return to NASCAR, not only running a part-time schedule but also being part-owner of a team started by the legendary Richard Petty. Johnson’s first start is Sunday in the Daytona 500.

“It’s what I know and what I love,” Johnson said. “I really wanted to experience other cars and other tracks before that door closed to me. … The grind of having 19 years in Cup racing took its toll and I just wanted to drive other cars and try other things.

“Some thought it was crazy ... or maybe foolish or wild that I would try and do IndyCar. But that was for me. That’s what the last two years have been and really what I intended for this year was to just fill that fun bucket and experience bucket.”

Because he was classified as a “non-chartered” car he had to qualify to make the field. He did that Wednesday night when he posted the 23rd fastest time in single-car qualifying, the fastest among the six non-chartered cars. As the fastest of the non-charter teams in Wednesday’s qualifying session, Johnson and Pastrana will start 39th and 40th on Sunday. Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson are on the front row, having posted the two fastest times Wednesday.

Johnson likely would have a spot on the Mt. Rushmore of the modern-day NASCAR circuit. It’s certainly something his fans believe as they were critical when NASCAR entered a Rose Parade float and had car depictions of Petty, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Jeff Gordon but not Johnson. Earnhardt, Petty and Johnson have each won a record seven season NASCAR titles. Johnson had an unprecedented five straight championships from 2006 to 2010.

Success has followed Johnson his entire career, beginning in 2002 when he won the pole position in his first Daytona 500. He won his first Cup Series race that year in his 13th start at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, the closest track to where he grew up in El Cajon, Calif.