Jimmie Johnson’s ‘fear,’ ’embarrassment’ of testing positive for Coronavirus

By Jerry Jordan, Editor

SPEEDWAY, Ind. – Embarrassment and fear – two emotions Jimmie Johnson said he experienced upon receiving word that he tested positive for the Coronavirus; putting the brakes on his plans to compete for a fifth win in NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Embarrassment because he and his wife, Chandra, thought they had done all they could to take the necessary precautions against catching the virus that has thrown the entire world into pandemic tumult – they both contracted it anyway. Fear because he traveled to an IndyCar Series race shop in Indianapolis, drove a racing simulator and interacted with other teams, friends and family members – all while experiencing no symptoms or knowing he was an asymptomatic carrier of the Coronavirus.

So … how does it happen that one of the healthiest athletes in the NASCAR garage contract a virus that has been linked to the deaths of 129,000 people in the United States and 526,000 people worldwide? He even took his family to their home in Colorado to try and enhance their abilities to socially distance and separate themselves from city life in the Charlotte, N.C. area. Johnson doesn’t have the answers.

“Chani (Chandra Johnson) had some allergy symptoms that she was dealing with earlier in the week and being a rule-follower and the ever-cautious individual she is, she felt she needed to go to the local hospital here in Colorado to have a test done, just to be responsible and do her part,” said Johnson, of his wife’s diligence.

It took a couple of days for her results to come back and when they did – at approximately 9 a.m. Friday – it wasn’t what they expected. The news that his wife was positive for the Coronavirus set into motion his own immediate testing procedures leading into the big NASCAR weekend in Indianapolis.

He took the rapid-result test, as did his two children. The bad news came Friday afternoon but the silver lining was that both of his daughters tested negative. Still, he had to make the necessary and mandated notifications to NASCAR and everyone he had been in contact with for the past 14 days.

“I was blown away and surprised and caught off-guard and embarrassed, I guess, to some respect and fearful of the impact this would have on my race team, and the folks at Ganassi that I came in contact with,” he said. “All these emotions that are primarily fear-based, kick-in.”

Johnson is the first NASCAR driver to contract the virus across all three series. The news was a shock to the entire racing community because he is considered one of the healthiest people in the garage.

“Yeah, to go back 14 days, clearly I was at Pocono. I’ve been to Ganassi for a seat fitting and then to Dallara (race shop,” Johnson said. “So, I’ve been through all those steps to notify everybody and let them know. The CDC has also contacted me and Chani and has gone through their survey and interview. So, we’ve done everything we think we can and have called everybody that we could. So yesterday was extremely busy and in some respects, embarrassing to be in this position. And then you fear that maybe you came in contact with someone that’s going to have a more difficult time than we have had. I feel terrible for Ganassi Racing and any stress I’ve put on their system; and clearly, Hendrick Motorsports. It’s been a wild range of emotions in the last 12 or 14 hours in dealing with it all.

“We don’t know how many days in I am right now, so there is some concern that my conditions could worsen. But, I have literally had zero symptoms. My wife, at the most, has had allergy-like symptoms, which isn’t uncommon for us this time of year in Colorado. The Cottonwoods are doing their thing, and everyone in town has some kind of small allergy-related symptoms. So, I feel great. I think our biggest concern right now is for our children. They are negative as of yesterday.

“W watching the impact that the positive test has had on our children is heartbreaking. And it’s something we’re going to have to manage over these next couple of weeks as we’re in quarantine and isolation. To see the fear in their eyes and watch them try to process all of this and wonder if their parents are going to be like what they’ve seen in the news and if they’re going to experience that. And trying to stay isolated from them right now and parents at the same time is a challenge we’re not sure how we’re going to handle.”

The revelation that Johnson contracted the virus humanizes the otherwise super-hero status of the seven-time NASCAR champion, who was in his final year of full-time racing in the sport. In some ways, it shows that no matter how careful you are, as Johnson said, there are still many questions about the Coronavirus or COVID-19 that even the experts don’t know. As he also said, neither he nor his wife experienced any symptoms. And had she not had allergies, they would have continued to go about their daily lives, whether working, taking care of their children, racing or visiting with friends. As it stands, one other crew member has been placed in self-quarantine because of their proximity to Johnson.

As for NASCAR, Johnson can’t drive until he received two negative COVID-19 tests, at least, 24-hours apart along with medical clearance from a doctor. Until then, he said he will focus on staying healthy and dealing with the fears his children have because of what they have seen in the news. He also wants to try and get more answers.

“It would be very easy right now to get bummed-out and to look at this the wrong way, but I’m healthy,” he said. “My wife is healthy. My kids are. Our prayers are that it stays that way. We’re hopeful that through our situation that maybe some others can learn from this as well. If it wasn’t for Chani’s diligence on trying to do the right thing at all times, we would be going on with life as normal. And who knows who we could have come in contact with and the repercussions that could have had?”

“So, I have more questions, honestly, than I do answers at this point. I don’t think you can be careful enough. With our best attempts, we still ended up positive, somehow. We’re unclear as to how we ended up positive. Yesterday, in going to the hospital and getting my test and talking to healthcare professionals, having my positive test, and talking to more healthcare professionals, there are so many unknowns right now. And we really, as individuals, have to be diligent to do the best that we can. City, state, president, everybody involved; there’s just not a lot of answers. And I can’t even get answers having the virus. There’s really a lot that counts on the individual and on your family to self-monitor and self-regulate and to use self-discipline. So, that’s the takeaway that I have on all this and hopefully, that can encourage others to be as diligent as they can and not let their guard down right now.”

And social distancing in a house with two daughters isn’t an easy task.

“It’s very tricky, though, with my wife and I testing positive and our kids are negative,” explained Johnson. “We’re very scared to be around them and interact with them. Not to mention my oldest, her birthday is coming up on July 7th and the combination of fear that she has and then heart being broken for the 4th of July and her birthday. We’re going to be celebrating inside of our house and distancing as far as we can. It’s just been tough for our little ones to really grasp.”

One of the procedures Johnson and Chani had to deal with were calls from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Although the questions were “clinical,” the government agency is tracking all cases of Coronavirus and sought information on where he’d been and who he interacted with, etc.

“The conversation with the CDC was much more about trying to understand our location, the community that we’re in, and who we came in contact within that community in the last 14 days. So, it was very much focused on contact tracing. Outside of that, just some basic health questions were asked, trying to understand if we had any pre-existing medical issue that we are dealing with; and I assume just to help with statistics that we see and read daily as we check-in on the Coronavirus and how that’s going. It was a very clinical conversation with them, if you will.”

One thing that has surprised Johnson throughout his and Chani’s ordeal is the number of people who don’t show symptoms but do receive positive Coronavirus tests. And Johnson said he and his wife don’t know how they contracted the virus. It’s logical, he said, that one of them could have given it to the other but there are so many unknowns, especially since they are both asymptomatic.

“It appears that recently there have been more asymptomatic people out there,” he said. “I’m not sure if that’s just because testing is more available. It seems logical. Even the medical professionals I’ve spoken to are theorizing more than they are giving facts. I’m surprised how many asymptomatic people have tested positive and those numbers I think, are staggering. Thankfully, the mortality rate seems to be down. Obviously, there’s a big lag in how all of this works, so my prayers are for those that do test positive, including myself, that this does not progress and advance and is going in the wrong direction.”

Justin Allgaier will take over Johnson’s ride at Indianapolis – it’s a situation he has never been in since he took the green flag in his first full-time season as a Cup Series driver in 2002. Johnson has never missed a race even with the birth of his two children. Somehow, he has always found a way to be there for his family and his race team.

“Crazy way to have your start streak come to an end,” Johnson said, confirming he’d be cheering on his team from more than 1,200 miles away in Aspen, Colorado. “But I’ll absolutely be watching and hoping for the best for that No. 48 car. My team means everything to me, and I know we’re all very disappointed with the situation. I’m confident that Justin Allgaier is going to get in and do a great job.”

Allgaier said he isn’t trying to be a hero in the Brickyard 400 or whatever other races he fills in for Johnson. He said that would be irresponsible. His goal is to do his best and give 100-percent. Filling in for Johnson under the circumstances isn’t something anyone wants but his job is to get the No. 48 team the best finishes possible while he is behind the wheel.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Hendrick Motorsports implemented an emergency plan several months ago and named Allgaier as their backup driver should any of the four primary HMS drivers contract the virus. It was a role he hoped he wouldn’t have to fill.

“The circumstances are not what anybody wants,” Allgaier said. “And it doesn’t necessarily mean with Jimmie or any driver for that matter. I feel like NASCAR and all the teams have done a really good job of being proactive. And unfortunately, with what’s going on right now, it’s very, very difficult to do all those social distancing things and hope that nothing happens like this. So, you know, for me, one of the things that has been very interesting is that I have been sitting every week on stand-by for HMS. They have been extremely helpful in that regard from my end and just making sure they have a backup plan not only for myself but for all of their guys.

“My standpoint is this, the opportunity or not, does not supersede the need to go there and do the job at hand, right? 100 percent if what I have to offer,” Allgaier said. “That’s what I am going to give them tomorrow. 101 or 110? Trying to be a hero, there is no place for that. This isn’t what this role is about.”

Johnson said he isn’t worried about Allgaier and has faith in his ability to handle the pressure and perform for the team.

“I’m confident that Justin Allgaier is going to get in and do a great job,” Johnson said. “I know Cliff is going to call a great race and our guys on pit road are going to get it done. So, I’m wishing him all the best and I’ll be watching as a fan, unfortunately.”

As for the IndyCar test he was supposed to run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week, it has been temporarily put on hold, Johnson said.

“That IndyCar test will be there,” he said. “Hopefully I’m cleared soon, and I can get back to the track. To get in the No. 48 car is my first priority of course. And we’ll get to that IndyCar test. Thankfully, I have interest on the IndyCar-side and sooner or later I’ll be able to drive one and see what that’s like.”