Jimmie Johnson creates new Le Mans memories, brings NASCAR flavor to parade through town

By Zack Albert


Zack Albert NASCAR StudiosLE MANS, France — Jimmie Johnson’s two-week engagement of fulfilling his childhood dreams is already off to a rollicking start.

He shared his memories during a Q&A with French media during Friday’s scrutineering session ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 10-11), describing seeing the unique Le Mans-style starting procedures from years gone by.

“As a young boy watching racing with my father, he would show me this race where drivers would line up on the opposite side of the race track, run across the track and get in their cars to drive off. And as a kid, I said, ‘I need to do this. I’ve got to do that someday.’ I grew up with racing in my family and very much a part of it. I’ve always loved sports car racing, spent some time racing in IMSA over the years, been in a few Rolex 24s, so I feel like this day has been coming.”

RELATED: At-track photos: Le Mans | Le Mans race week schedule

Johnson added a chapter Saturday to what’s already been a legendary week, driving the Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 through the streets of the city during the race’s centenary post-scrutineering parade — one week before the start of the French endurance racing classic. Throngs of fans lined the parade route, which began near the Place de la République square, and rolled past the hulking Cathedral of Saint Julian of Le Mans before ending through Tunnel Wilbur-Wright. The No. 24 Chevy was the anchor for the exclusive eight-car procession.

It’s still just the first weekend in Le Mans, but the vibrant buzz around the race and the embrace of the American stock-car visitors have been palpable.

“It was just an all-new experience, but really cool to see the fans continue to show up day after day,” Johnson said, taking in the sights under the historic arches near the medieval section of old town Le Mans. “They had to be five or six deep along the parade route, which was really impressive. And then a photo — I’ve seen this (tunnel) photo before. So now it all makes sense to me to be here and to have our car be a part of it, it’s really cool.”
Zack Albert | NASCAR StudiosThe No. 24 Chevrolet will make its first on-track laps Sunday at the 8.467-mile Circuit de la Sarthe for the opening test sessions. It’s a moment that Johnson’s been waiting for since he was originally confirmed to the driver lineup — along with fellow veterans Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller — back in January at IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

MORE: Garage 56 timeline, coverage

His arrival in France was delayed by dreadful weather during the NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, an occurrence that pushed back his rookie orientation. He underwent three hours-plus of multistage simulation work at AOTech outside Paris, which provided him with driving experiences in the rain, dry, night and day under the supervision of race organizers Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). The simulator company stayed open later to accommodate the shift in schedules.

“It really worked out well,” Johnson said. “The ACO was able to create some time for me to get the simulator. I personally ended up here very early, except for the simulator that I was in on Wednesday, so they let me stay late after they closed and right and got in my (sim) hours and worked through some of the procedures that take place on the track. I’ve been here a couple days early. I was ahead of all these guys just kind of hanging out and getting acclimated and ready.”

One day later for the simulation and orientation, but one day closer to the car’s on-track debut at Le Mans.

“He would have had a little bit more rest in between the simulator time and Charlotte, but he did what he needed to do. He got here,” said Chad Knaus, Hendrick Motorsports’ VP of Competition and his longtime collaborator in his days as a Cup Series crew chief. “He’s a little sleep-deprived, but as soon as he landed, he went straight to the simulator and used it for about three hours. Did a great job, so really, really happy that he did that, and he even said it was beneficial, so that was good.”

Garage 56

 

Taste of Le Mans: Fans welcome Garage 56 team, drivers in city-square scrutineering

By Zack Albert


Zack Albert NASCAR StudiosLE MANS, France — Cars have yet to turn a lap in preparation for next week’s centenary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but a number of firsts have already taken place after this week’s initial set-up time for the endurance classic.

Appreciative French fans clicked away with cameras and phones to preserve what — for many — was likely their first glimpse of a NASCAR stock car on their home soil. And the Hendrick Motorsports contingent that prepared the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the invited Garage 56 entry witnessed a brand-new spectacle, presenting a car for inspection in the heart of a thriving downtown European square.

RELATED: At-track photos: Le Mans | Le Mans race week schedule

The Garage 56 Camaro had its final administrative and technical checks from race organizers during Friday’s scrutineering session in the Place de la République in Le Mans, a last once-over before the car hits the 8.467-mile Circuit de la Sarthe for Sunday’s opening practice. Adding to the pageantry, the car joined the majority of the field in rolling through the bustling city centre for weights and measurements, plus the mandatory systems and safety checks.

“This is a first for certain, but what an amazing experience,” said Chad Knaus, Hendrick Motorsports’ VP of Competition. “It’s really been a pleasure and a privilege to be able to work with the folks from the ACO and the FIA (race organizers Automobile Club de l’Ouest and Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) to get this car over here. Really proud of it, and it’s presented really well. The guys did a tremendous job in Hendrick Motorsports getting the car prepared and all the details met for them to be happy with the car. It’s beautiful. It’s a lot of fun.”

The event was free for fans, who jammed the area to see Garage 56 drivers Jenson Button, Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller don their white fire suits for interviews, a Q&A session and a group photo after scrutineering was complete. While Button might be the most familiar to European fans given his previous successes and involvement with the Formula 1 circuit, but the recognition was strong with the other two — Rockenfeller as a past Le Mans champ, and Johnson’s racing prestige, which had fans bearing No. 48 die-cast cars from his heyday and shouting “Jimmie! S’il vous plait,” through thick accents for his autograph.

“Shoot, I saw a NASCAR Sprint Cup champion hat earlier, which is hilarious,” Knaus said. “So that dates back however many years. All the fans here, they’ve been super supportive.”

At 47 years old, Johnson is the oldest of the veteran group of drivers — Button is 43 and Rockenfeller 39 — but he’s a Le Mans newbie. Since entering his semi-retirement years after his last full NASCAR Cup Series season in 2020, he’s assembled a dream-worthy list of motorsports to-dos. Sports-car racing in IMSA and trying his hand at driving Indy cars and the Indianapolis 500 are boxes recently checked, but the 24 Hours of Le Mans is next on the docket.

“I didn’t know what to expect, so it’s definitely more so,” Johnson said as he took everything in. “I’ve just heard about how special today is, and really every day that follows. I wasn’t as prepared to be shocked as I was yesterday, pulling into the speedway just to see the scale and magnitude. This is awesome. I’m really, really enjoying it so far.”
Zack Albert | NASCAR StudiosThe car spent most of Friday morning at the circuit, with the Hendrick Motorsports crew getting better accustomed to their surroundings at the far end of pit road — occupying the stall nearest the pit exit. Pit-crew members won’t have a pit wall to surmount to service the car, but the changes in the pit-stop process — using a fuel nozzle instead of gas cans, and an overhead air hose mounted on swiveling arms for tire changes — required some practice during Friday’s walk-through.

The three drivers took off from the pit lane for a morning jog on part of the course but beforehand observed the attention that the Garage 56 entry received from early trackside visitors and fellow teams. Crew members wearing Ferrari red and prancing horse logos joined Cool Racing’s LMP2 staff and other drivers and crew in getting a closer look.

“This is such a cool journey for all of us, but to see people’s reactions in the pit lane when they see the car, it’s great,” Button said. “And also to see it for the first time with other cars racing this weekend is pretty cool. Yeah, there’s been a lot of people interested, taking pictures of it because it’s something so different that races here at Le Mans. The best bit for me is when they start it up, though. It will blow everyone’s mind, the sound of it. It is insane. You hear the Cadillac’s impressive. This thing is .. it will rock your world. So yeah, looking forward to that.”

MORE: Garage 56 timeline, coverage

The No. 24 Chevrolet’s turn through the scrutineering line was the next-to-last of the sunny afternoon. The remaining 23 cars will be inspected in Saturday’s ceremonies, which will include a parade of eight select vehicles — including the Hendrick G56 reserve car and a 1923 Chenard & Walcker identical to the first Le Mans winner.

It marked the final check in what’s been an ongoing process. ACO and FIA officials were at the Garage 56 car’s two-day test at Circuit of The Americas in March for a preliminary inspection, and the car was subject to further review Thursday at the Le Mans track. Each driver’s safety equipment will also be certified through the scrutineering procedures.

But amid the formality, there was a time to savor being on a grand stage with the full Hendrick Motorsports delegation standing alongside the drivers and the car in preparing for a race that predates all but the centenarians among us.

“Frankly, this moment is something I wanted every member of this program to experience because there’s a lot of milestones in life, there’s a lot of milestones in careers, and there’s big milestones in our sport, and this is one of them,” said IMSA president John Doonan, who walked alongside the car for every stop of scrutineering. “So for each of the men and women that have put so much into getting us here, they need to take this moment in, and that makes me so happy for them. They deserve that. And for the fans, when NASCAR came here to Le Mans in 1976, the fans were enamored by the car and the sound the car made. Certainly, the car has gotten everyone’s attention so far this week, and when we go on track on Sunday, I think they’re going to once again be enamored by the sound of NASCAR.”

Garage 56

 

Garage 56: Timeline and coverage of Le Mans project

Chris Graythen Getty ImagesFull coverage and timeline of the Garage 56 project’s path to participation in the centennial edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 10-11:

EVENT COVERAGE

• For Garage 56 crew chief Greg Ives, a first Le Mans experience ‘unlike any other’
• City centre welcomes Garage 56 team, drivers in scrutineering
• At-track photos: Sights, scenes from Le Mans
• One week out: Garage 56 ready for its first showing
• Full schedule for Le Mans race week

PROJECT TIMELINE

March 17, 2022: Launch at Sebring — The Garage 56 initiative takes flight with an announcement at Sebring International Raceway that a modified Next Gen stock car would take on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. High-ranking representatives from NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, Goodyear, IMSA and Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) were on hand for the project’s reveal, with the goal of competing in the “innovative car” class in the event’s 2023 centennial. | MORE: Garage 56 project sets sail | An innovative class by itself

June 11-12, 2022: Scouting mission — VP of Competition Chad Knaus and other delegates from Hendrick Motorsports take in the 2022 edition of the 24-hour race, making notes and observations for their proposed invitation the following year. | MORE: Insights from Le Mans visit | Jim France wins Spirit of Le Mans Award

August 29-30, 2022: First on-track test — A working test mule, built in collaboration with the Action Express sports-car team, hits the track for laps at Road Atlanta. German road-racing ace Mike Rockenfeller is the test driver.

November 14-15, 2022: Testing at VIR — A Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 test car that more closely resembles the proposed Garage 56 entry is put through its paces by Rockenfeller at Virginia International Raceway. The Hendrick-built car features a more robust front splitter and rear diffuser, dive planes and underwing enhancements. | MORE: ‘Huge milestone’ in two-day VIR test | Photos from VIR

November 2022: Tire testing — The specially made rubber for the Garage 56 project is put to the test at the Goodyear proving grounds.

December 7, 2022: Seven-time seat time — Jimmie Johnson gets his first turn behind the wheel of the Garage 56 test car at Carolina Motorsports Park’s 2.279-mile road course in Kershaw, S.C.

December 19-20, 2022: Sebring scene — Johnson and Rockenfeller traded driving duties during two days of test runs at Sebring International Raceway. Heavy rain shortens the session, which marks the first usage of carbon brakes on the test vehicle.

January 28, 2023: Driver announcement — With IMSA’s Rolex 24 weekend as the backdrop, the three-driver lineup of Johnson, Rockenfeller and former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button is presented at a press conference at Daytona International Speedway. IMSA standout Jordan Taylor is added as the alternate, a test driver and a consultant for the group. MORE: Driver lineup debuts

January 31-February 1, 2023: Daytona at dark — The car’s freshly installed headlights get their first nighttime trial as the newly tapped driver quartet gets to work, practicing pit stops and driver changes for the first time. Durability was the focus of Day 2, and the car clocked 1,620 miles in total for the two-day session. MORE: Garage 56 project gains miles, experience | Day 1 recap | Photos from Daytona testing

February 17, 2023: Livery, car specs revealed — A bright blue look for the Garage 56 entry is unveiled in Daytona’s Victory Lane, and the specifications of the modified Next Gen car come into focus, with a larger fuel tank, significant weight savings and a horsepower figure in the high 700s. | MORE: A fresh look at Garage 56 | Photos: Livery from all angles

February 20-21, 2023: Endurance effect — Sebring is the setting for a 23-hour run and another major swing at the twice-around-the-clock challenge that awaits in Le Mans. The car registers 2,367 miles as the team works through its tire options, changes brakes and practices pit stops and driver changes.

February 27, 2023: Invite official — The Next Gen proposal for the Garage 56 entry was accepted by Le Mans race organizers, who released the entry list for the 24-hour event. The car will compete using a number that’s special to Hendrick Motorsports, the No. 24 that Jeff Gordon carried during his run of NASCAR success. | MORE: No. 24 lands on entry list

March 7-8, 2023: Set-up prep — The project welcomed a second Garage 56 car into the mix as the team explored set-up options in two days of testing at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. The cars also received a preliminary technical inspection by race organizers at the 3.41-mile course.

April 17-18, 2023: Final tune-up — A group photo of the team and the project’s partners on Sebring’s pit lane capped the last test before the Garage 56 entry tackles Le Mans. The final distance achieved in testing nets out to 6,834 miles. MORE: Sebring send-off on Day 2 | Final mark-up for G56 cars | Photos: Final test at Sebring

May 2023: Cars, equipment arrive in France.

June 4, 2023: On-track action — A champion’s welcome greeted the Garage 56 contingent in France, as fans especially flocked to seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. On track for the first time, the entry showed serious speed. MORE: Strides made during test-day debut

June 10-11: 24 Hours of Le Mans.

 

Race week schedule for the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans

By Staff Report



NASCAR.com

Published: 4 days ago

2 Minute Read


James Moy Photography Getty ImagesFull schedule for the 2023 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, celebrating its 100th anniversary year.
(All times ET, a six-hour time difference from Le Mans, France)

Friday, June 2

4 a.m.-1 p.m. — Public scrutineering (inspection), Place de la République in Le Mans town center
11:15-11:50 a.m. — Garage 56 scrutineering

Saturday, June 3

4-9 a.m. — Public scrutineering (inspection), Place de la République in Le Mans town center
9 a.m. — City Centre driver parade, Place de la République; Jimmie Johnson to drive Garage 56 entry
Noon — Race Week Launch

Sunday, June 4

1 a.m. — Official opening of the Circuit de la Sarthe
4-7 a.m. — Free practice 1
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Free practice 2

Tuesday, June 6

9:15-10:30 a.m. — Pit-stop challenge, Circuit de la Sarthe pit lane
1:30 p.m. — Official photo of cars on the Le Mans grid

Wednesday, June 7

8-11 a.m. — Free practice 3
1-2 p.m. — Qualifying practice; top eight cars in each class advance to Hyperpole qualifying
4-6 p.m. — Free practice 4

Thursday, June 8

9 a.m.-noon — Free practice 5
2-2:30 p.m. — Hyperpole qualifying
4-5 p.m. — Final free practice

Friday, June 9

8-10:30 a.m. — Drivers parade, Le Mans City Centre

Saturday, June 10

6-6:15 a.m. — Warm-up
7:45-8:30 a.m. — Presentation of the cars and drivers
9 a.m. — Opening ceremony
9:10 a.m. — Cars pushed into starting position
9:51 a.m. — Formation lap starts
10 a.m. — Start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Sunday, June 11

10 a.m. — Finish of the 24 Hours of Le Mans; podium presentations

 

Garage 56 entry one week away from first showing at Le Mans

By Holly Cain




Chris Graythen Getty ImagesOne week from Friday, NASCAR’s long-awaited, highly collaborative Garage 56 project will formally make its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in France – the No. 24 Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 presented for inspection at the Place de la Republique in the center of town, the world center of sports car racing for the week.

The 62 cars entered for the renowned twice-around-the-clock Le Mans race, as well as their 186 drivers, must go through a series of “administrative and technical checks” – called “scrutineering” – in advance of the first practice session at the 8.467-mile Circuit de le Sarthe on Sunday, June 4. The inspection is both a technical once-over and in so many ways a grand showcase.

RELATED: Sebring send-off for G56 entry | Photos from final test

The Garage 56 Chevrolet – a coordinated effort among NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, Goodyear and IMSA – was shipped to France on May 18 and is scheduled to take its formal turn at inspection next Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. ET; the only entry in the race’s “Innovative Car” class. The next day, it will join seven other cars in a famed parade through Le Mans – from the Avenue Charles de Gaulle and ultimately through the Wilbur Wright tunnel – in front of tens of thousands of fans descending on the small, French inland town for the 24-hour race.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is headlining a stellar group of drivers for the Garage 56 entry that also includes sports car great – and former Le Mans winner – Mike Rockenfeller, Formula One champion Jenson Button and multi-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Series champion Jordan Taylor in a reserve role.

While his teammates have all competed in Le Mans previously, this will be Johnson’s debut in the June 10-11 race, which is celebrating 100 years on the racing calendar. The popular NASCAR champion will be competing for his own Legacy Motor Club team in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday and then leaves immediately for Paris, where he will undergo a sort of “rookie orientation” the next day.

After all the testing, preparing and anticipating, Johnson is now simply eager to get to Europe for the actual race week, with its 100th-anniversary pomp and the high-level international competition.

“It’s hard to believe it’s almost here, we’ve been preparing for so long,” Johnson said this week. “I’m excited to get there and to take in absolutely every second of this incredible opportunity. I’ve been a part of many really amazing things in my career. This is going to be on to be one of the top five.

“I am so happy I can take my family with me to Le Mans. We are all looking forward to this extremely prestigious race and taking everything in. Can’t say enough about the preparation that has gone into this by everyone at NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports.

“I’m focusing on the 600 [this Sunday], but it’s hard not to have that excitement knowing we leave in a few days.”

The last test for the No. 24 Next Gen Chevrolet came at Sebring in April under the watchful eyes of NASCAR chairman Jim France, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, IMSA president John Doonan and longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton – all of whom will be in Le Mans next week.

“We went from testing and development to tuning and now it’s getting into execution mode,” said IMSA’s Doonan. “This all started with a vision from Jim [France] and putting all the best partners that NASCAR has together, the winningest team, winningest manufacturer, tire partner since 1954 and had all those pillars aligned and wanted to put NASCAR on a global stage and because of our relationship IMSA has with the ACO, it all fit together.

“For me, I’m a big historian of the sport and to look back at what Jim’s dad had a vision of trying to align – NASCAR was coming on strong in the south and he wasn’t satisfied yet, he felt it deserved more international notoriety,” Doonan continued. “He did that [with a Le Mans entry] in 1976 and then to recreate it now, you have a passionate fan group over there that I think will appreciate NASCAR, the sound, the pit stops, all of that.

“And I think we have a group of passionate NASCAR fans here that may now look at IMSA and the international sports car property a little differently and be able to root on their NASCAR entry.”

 

BACK TO GALLERIES

At-track photos: 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans

By Staff Report | Published: 1 Day Ago
65
Chris Graythen | Getty Images1 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 roars past a roadway sign on the Le Mans circuit during Sunday's test day ahead of the endurance classic.
The collaborative effort among NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear is entered in the "innovative car" category of this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, set for June 10-11.

2 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson waits for his next driving stint during Sunday's test day at Le Mans.

3 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

From left, Hendrick Motorsports' Chad Knaus, IMSA president John Doonan and Garage 56 driver Mike Rockenfeller talk during a break in practice at Circuit de la Sarthe.
4 of 65

 

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Garage 56 driver and former Formula 1 champ Jenson Button watches over the monitors of the Hendrick Motorsports crew during Sunday's test day at Le Mans.5 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The Hendrick Motorsports crew at work in the paddock confines during Sunday's test day at Le Mans.6 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Jenson Button, left, and Jimmie Johnson talk shop during a break in the action during Sunday's test day at Le Mans.
7 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Mike Rockenfeller loads in for a driving stint during Sunday's test day at Le Mans.8 of 65

 

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The Garage 56 No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 awaits its next run during Sunday's test day at Le Mans. The car made 58 laps around the 8.467-mile circuit in testing.9 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The Garage 56 Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 leads a line of prototypes and sports cars through the turns at Le Mans' Circuit de la Sarthe during Sunday's opening test-day session.
10 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The view through the guard rail of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, making laps in the opening test-day session at Le Mans. The car turned 30 laps around the 8.467-mile course in the first three-hour stint.11 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 navigates the esses in Sunday's test day ahead of next weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans.12 of 65

 

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Fans taking in the sun-splashed day at Le Mans look on as the No. 24 Chevrolet makes time around the course. The stocker's distinctive sound stood out among the 62-car field of participants in testing.

13 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 rounds the apex during Sunday's test day at Le Mans.

14 of 65

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

The Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sits under the arched Tunnel Wilbur-Wright after Saturday's centenary parade through the streets of Le Mans.15 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson drives the No. 24 NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet ZL1 ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
16 of 65

 

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Fans gather around the NASCAR Next Gen Garage 56 Chevrolet ZL1 ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe.17 of 65

Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

Jimmie Johnson loads into the No. 24 Chevrolet for a centenary parade Saturday through the packed streets of Le Mans.18 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Fans gather around the NASCAR Next Gen Garage 56 Chevrolet ZL1 ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
19 of 65

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Fans gather around the NASCAR Next Gen Garage 56 Chevrolet ZL1 ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe.20 of 65