DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Discomfort makes Jimmie Johnson feel alive.
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion drove the opening leg of the Rolex 24 At Daytona for the first time Saturday, taking the track with the simple goal of not destroying the car — along with his team's chances of victory.
"There were a few close calls," Johnson said. "It's certainly a lot of nerves to deliver the car in one piece. Now I'm so happy to have that out of the way. I can go rest and fall into the rhythm of what this race is."
Appearing in the Rolex 24 for the first time in a decade, Johnson started the afternoon in sixth place among the Daytona Protoype International (DPi) class. He exited the No. 48 Cadillac DPi in fourth, completing a roughly 75-minute stint before handing the honors to Simon Pagenaud.
Two-time defending race champion Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Rockenfeller round out the No. 48 team. Johnson expected to return in "five or six hours" for an early morning spin around the 3.56-mile track.
Kobayashi animatedly delivered some pointers in the pits following his first stint. Johnson sought advice in dealing with and picking up time through the dreaded bus stop.
"He knew I was trying to sort out working traffic and doing a better job, and the right amount of risk to take," Johnson said. "He and Rocky were just fired up.
"There's such a big risk, but there is a reward for lap time (in the bus stop). His experience in high-downforce cars, and the bravery and talent he has, he's just a monster through there. We've all looked at the data and just can't believe how fast he gets through there and how committed he is."
In addition to competing for the coveted watch, Johnson believes the race will give him ample experience as he transitions to part-time IndyCar competition. The 45-year-old signed a two-year contract with Chip Ganassi Racing to compete on road and street courses.
The DPi, he said, is the closest simulation to an IndyCar.
"I know the world that I'm stepping into, and I know what I walked away from and the comfort I had there," Johnson said.
"I really do like being uncomfortable and how it makes me feel, and how it holds me accountable. I've jumped in the deep end of the pool with weights around my ankles for '21 and '22, and it just makes me feel more alive than I have in quite some time."
