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Jimmie Johnson will miss the Brickyard 400 on Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19, Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday.
The seven-time Cup Series champion issued a statement about his absence:
“My first priority is the health and safety of my loved ones and my teammates. I have never missed a race in my Cup career, but I know it will be very difficult to see from the side when I am supposed to I must be competing. Although this situation is extremely disappointing, I am going to come back ready to win races and put myself in the fight for the playoffs. “
According to Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports, Johnson did not experience any symptoms, but was tested after his wife, Chandra, tested positive.
Justin Allgaier will replace Johnson in the No. 48 car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Johnson had started 663 consecutive races, the longest active streak in NASCAR, for Pockrass.
With the veteran ready to retire After the 2020 season, this could have been his last chance to compete in Indianapolis on a track where he won four times in his career.
The 44-year-old is still eligible for the playoffs because NASCAR granted him an exemption, allowing him to waste time and return when he has no symptoms and has tested negative twice, for Pockrass.
Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, said in a statement:
“Jimmie has handled this situation like the champion he is. We are relieved that he shows no symptoms and that Chani is doing very well, and we know he will be back and ready to leave very soon. It will be difficult for him to be out of the car and away from his team, but it’s the right thing for Jimmie and everyone involved. “
The driver had been in contact with a member of his team, who will now be quarantined.
Johnson sits 12th in the classifications no wins in 15 starts. He is 63 points ahead of the limit ahead of Austin Dillon in 17th place, but the field can be reduced with nine more official runs before the start of the playoffs.
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