NASCAR races on at Indy after Johnson contracts coronavirus

NASCAR's extravagant weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where back-and-forth battle between Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin should continue has been rocked by its first driver testing positive for coronavirus.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will miss what was supposed to be his final Brickyard 400 as he quarantines following Friday test result. He was asymptomatic but wife Chani h tested positive, so Johnson h himself checked.

Johnson said he was disappointed and worried about emotional impact of positive tests on his young children. He still plans to step away from full-time racing after season, though t away from sport.

Clearly I have this interest in Indy cars, sports cars, and in many or forms of racing so I assume that's helping me deal with this and t feel like, you kw, so I'm having some things taken away from me, he said Saturday.

NASCAR was one of first sports to resume competition following sports shutdown and Sunday will be its 12th Cup race since May return. Drivers are told to isolate at race track, limit interaction with ir crews and wear masks.

entire industry stood shoulder-to-shoulder two weeks ago in support of driver Bubba Wallace, and Johnson was front and center and even hugged Wallace after national anm at Tallega. Johnson also spent a day this week in Dallara's simulator as preparation for a w-postponed Indy car test.

Johnson on Sunday h hoped to tie Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher as only drivers with five victories at Indianapolis. Inste, Justin Allgaier will drive Hendrick Motorsports . 48 Chevrolet.

Harvick, meanwhile, will attempt to win a second consecutive Brickyard and a win on Indy's oval would tie NASCAR's points leer with Hamlin, Daytona 500, at four wins each. duo has combined for seven victories in 15 Cup races, including four of last six and consecutive 1-2 finishes last weekend at Poco.

It's a championship battle in making and could be a key element in one of NASCAR's crown jewel events.

We're winning races, doing things we need to do right w, running up front, said Harvick, a two-time Brickyard winner. 

When you look at win column, as long as you're winning races, that's what it takes to win championships. 

NASCAR raced at Daytona International Speedway on July Fourth holiday weekend starting in 1959 but moved it to Indianapolis this year as one of biggest shakeups to original 2020 schedule. Indy, w owned by Roger Penske, h planned for weekend to be a celebration of America that hored military and entertained fans.

Penske and NASCAR ded ar wrinkle when Xfinity Series race was moved to IMS ro course, and this weekend was going to be an impressive display of a massive makeover Penske has given speedway.

pandemic upended everything. IndyCar's schedule was decimated and Penske moved that series to Saturday on IMS ro course. important doubleheer has raised anticipation for this holiday weekend of racing even though spectators aren't permitted and two series can't mingle.

Penske takes solace in that both IndyCar and NASCAR will be telecast by NBC, which this week takes over its portion of NASCAR television schedule.

With both races on network, we do hope fans will tune in and get to see really great racing," Penske said.

Cup cars have struggled to make competitive racing last several years at Indy  Penske said series could be moved to ro course in future  and Sunday's one-day show of practice or qualifying will benefit elite teams and veteran drivers. That for sure means Harvick and Hamlin should be in mix.

Harvick led 118 of 160 laps in last year's race, winning by more than six seconds. A year earlier, Hamlin was le until a caution with six laps remaining erased his cushion and allowed Br Keselowski to pass him for win.

Hamlin is 0-for-14 at Brickyard but has seven finishes of sixth or better. He feels good about his chances Sunday.

I would say specifically last 10 to 11 (races) we've been exceptional, really since coming back from break that we h, Hamlin said. 

My team is really strong." 

And n re is Keselowski, first Team Penske driver to give boss a Cup Series win at his favorite race track. Penske has 18 victories in Indianapolis 500.

Keselowski has won two Cup races and scored eight top-10 finishes since racing returned in May and he is jockeying for a contract extension from Penske.

My confidence level right w is very, very high that we can be a contender for entire season and continue to build and get stronger, he said. 

We're starting to show a lot of speed. I don't think we've reached our full potential. 

Im credits: AP