San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
JOHNSON TO TEST INDYCAR IN APRIL
Seven-time NASCAR Cup winner Jimmie Johnson said he’s going to do an Indycar team test with Mclaren Racing on April 6.
Johnson said Saturday he wasn’t sure if the one-day team test in Birmingham, Ala., would lead to an Indycar future, but he’s intrigued by the “totally different environment” of openwheel racing.
“There’s a chance I won’t like it, but I think the chances are low,” Johnson said. “More than anything I’m just thankful that Mclaren and the friendship I have there with (CEO) Zak Brown, where he’s like: ‘Hey, man, come give it a shot. See what you think. You take a look at it. We’ll take a look at you.’ ”
The 44-year-old Johnson said he wasn’t sure what engineer he’d be working with during the test or if it would lead to any other discussions.
“There’s nothing on the books now that have been discussed with it being so early in the year,” Johnson said. “There’s still time to get some more tests. We’ll know more after April 6 and reevaluate from there.”
Johnson, an El Cajon native, already has announced that 2020 will be his final season running a full-time schedule in the Cup series.
“It’s great for NASCAR as well, especially if I go run well,” Johnson said. “We’ve seen drivers come this way and no one’s really gone that way. Kurt (Busch) did recently and did a hell of a job at Indy, which did a lot of good for our sport.”
Elliott wins Phoenix pole
Chase Elliott won the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series event at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., his first pole of the season and ninth of his career.
Elliott made it around the 1-mile oval in 26.065 seconds. It’s the first time the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet driver has won a pole in Arizona. He’ll start today’s race on the front row alongside nine-time Phoenix winner Kevin Harvick, who finished 0.045 seconds behind Elliott.
Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin qualified third, while Kyle Larson was fourth and current points leader Ryan Blaney was fifth. Hamlin won the fall race in Phoenix last year.
Jones scores Xfinity win
Brandon Jones passed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammate Kyle Busch with 20 laps remaining and pulled away at Phoenix Raceway for his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.
Rookie Harrison Burton finished second and Busch was third, giving Joe Gibbs Racing the top three finishers. Burton has finished in the top 10 in all four races this season, winning last week at Fontana.