Pro Mazda driver Johnson returns to car at Mid-Ohio test

Three months after sustaining fractures to his hip and pelvis in a practice incident on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., Michael Johnson returned to the racetrack June 30 for a Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires test at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Johnson, driving for JDC Motorsports, is the first and only paralyzed driver licensed by INDYCAR to compete in Mazda Road to Indy developmental ladder program.

He turned 40 laps over two sessions on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course that will host Pro Mazda, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and the USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda races on July 31-Aug. 2. Johnson added 24 laps in the first session July 1 as testing continued for Pro Mazda and USF2000. Indy Lights drivers tested June 29 at Mid-Ohio.

On March 27, Johnson's car made heavy contact with a Turn 3 barrier on the 1.8-mile, 11-turn St. Petersburg street circuit. He was admitted to Bayfront Medical Center and discharged on April 15.

Indy Lights joins the Verizon IndyCar Series on July 11-12 for the ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee IndyFest race weekend, while Indy Lights and Pro Mazda join the Verizon IndyCar Series on July 17-18 for the Iowa Corn 300 race weekend at Iowa Speedway.