Jimmie Johnson looking at new open-wheel challenge?

Jimmie Johnson was recently quoted talking about getting into an IndyCar or F1 car. Jimmie even states that his background and aspirations were to be in IndyCar racing, just like his teammate Jeff Gordon. The unfortunate part is that the world of open wheel racing in the USA has it's compass and values all wrong. Even though it looks like it's growing and doing better these days, it's not. 17 cars in this year IRL field are buy-a-rides. That is not what a professional sport is about.

“The way I grew up, IndyCar racing was really the only outside exposure I had. I dreamt of racing in the Indy 500 and would go to the Long Beach Grand Prix and hope that I could be on that circuit racing at some point. So I’d love to try an IndyCar or an F1 car. My path has taken me a different way and I think it would be very difficult to get an F1 test. But maybe by putting it out there it could happen.

“To experience driving an IndyCar or F1 car on a road course would be really good for me. Running the Grand-Am car has helped me be a better road course driver, and it would be another step in an F1 or IndyCar to see things at a faster speed in the braking zones and the capabilities of the car, how it turns in."