| Duo Aim to End WeatherTech Championship Seasonwith Victory … or Help Teammate Car to Title November 13, 2021By Holly CainIMSA Wire Service  BRASELTON, Ga. – Elvis was in the paddock Friday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but even “the King” couldn’t boast of the longest line for autographs and photos in advance of Saturday’s Motul Petit Le Mans. That honor belonged to the No. 48 Ally Cadillac Racing team, whose drivers include seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion-turned IndyCar Series driver Jimmie Johnson, Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud and international sports car star Kamui Kobayashi. The only thing brighter than that lineup was the sun – the day’s blue skies and comfortable fall temperatures brought thousands of fans to the track for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s late-morning meet-and-greet. “Elvis” was there for a photo with the trio. Enthusiastic fans brought everything from a simulator rig steering wheel to photos of Pagenaud’s 2019 Indy 500 win to Johnson’s NASCAR memorabilia – hoping for an autograph or a quick word with their racing heroes. There were plenty of smiles and feel-goods all around, but this team has serious business on the agenda. A victory Saturday would be the first for any of the drivers at this historic track. Equally as important, their showing could be an important part of the puzzle in the bid of their No. 31 Whelen Engineering Racing teammates to claim the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class season title. The No. 10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 from Wayne Taylor Racing holds a slim eight-point edge over the No. 31 Whelen/Action Express Racing entry. Whichever car finishes higher Saturday night after 10 grueling hours of racing will be crowned the 2021 champion. You could say, Chad Knaus has a jump on this. He is already a 2021 champion, serving as vice president of competition for the Hendrick Motorsports team that won the NASCAR Cup Series championship with driver Kyle Larson last weekend at Phoenix Raceway. But the veteran crew chief and strategist, who led Johnson to all seven of his NASCAR titles, says he’s already readjusted mentally and is back at the track to compete in his role advising the No. 48 Cadillac DPi-V.R. “That (celebratory feeling) is basically gone because we’re back to work,’’ Knaus said. “You don’t carry a whole lot of that when you come here because I’m definitely a small fish in a big pond here. “Honestly, the approach is just like any other race weekend coming here to race with these guys. You’re out there, you’re competitive, there are goals you’re trying to meet. “Obviously with the (No.) 48, we’re doing everything in our power to get to victory lane, to qualify well and be here to provide a resource to the (No.) 31 to help those guys go out there and battle for the championship. That’s a big deal for this organization, and we’ve enjoyed working with Action Express and want to try and continue that partnership.’’ It’s a similar attitude for Johnson. Running only the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events, the No. 48 finished runner-up in the Rolex 24 At Daytona season opener, seventh in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts and fifth at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen – leading a total of 102 laps. Johnson has been to Michelin Raceway a handful of times – primarily to test his NASCAR car and to test the No. 48 Cadillac DPi last month. Saturday will be his first race on the famed track. It’s a comparable situation for Knaus, who once attended a motorcycle race at the track and has been on hand for tests. Much of the on-track time this week has been given to Kobayashi, making his first trip to Michelin Raceway. “Luckily, I had two days of testing and I was just really surprised how fast the DPi car is around this track,’’ said Johnson, who hadn’t competed in an IMSA race since 2011 before this year. “I have many laps around here in a Cup car, but the experience from this DPi car and a Cup car, they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of pace. “The Cup car has plenty of power. It was hard to get it stopped, but this DPi car has so much downforce, so much braking. … It’s just a different animal around here. I’ve enjoyed this track in the past and in the DPi car, it’s such a rush, a high-commitment track that is really fun to drive.’’ Kobayashi qualified the No. 48 Cadillac sixth on Friday. It was one spot better than the No. 10 Acura, providing the No. 31 Cadillac an important extra point in the championship chase. “We certainly are aware of the championship battle and plan to be respectful to everyone competing in the championship battle,’’ Johnson said. “We’re obviously excited to be here for a chance to win the race, and I think with Simon and Kamui, I’ve got two guys that can get it done. “So big picture, I think the (No.) 48 car is here to win the race. That’s absolutely on our radar and ultimately if we win the race, we potentially take points away from the (No.) 10 car and help our team in that situation. That is the goal for myself. It’s being closer on pace and earning more drive time as a result.” It’s a formula that has worked for Johnson and Knaus this season. The opportunity to be paired again and racing for victory is something both openly cherish – and something they hope results in a second chapter in 2022. “I love it, it’s great,’’ Knaus said of the weekend. “Obviously, everybody knows how important Jimmie is to me and how much I care about him, so to be able to get to the racetrack – I’m not going to say there isn’t pressure because there’s a tremendous amount of pressure and desire to run well – but it’s fun to see him in a little more of a relaxed environment than we raced the last 15 years together. “It’s good, it’s a lot of fun.’’ Johnson couldn’t agree more. He was relaxed with fans, smiling and sharing stories with his co-drivers and feeling extremely confident – even joyful – about having his trusted former crew chief on his radio again. “I’ve answered some questions about this and it kind of opened my mind to the influence Chad’s had in my life in being one that has held me accountable to the highest of levels,’’ Johnson said. “Certainly, toward the end of our time working together, there was friction there and it wasn’t fun at times, but the purest of intentions from him has been our success and my success. He genuinely cares about me as an individual and us as a group and what we did, and it feels so good to be back in that environment with him. “Even with my experience in IndyCar, I can hear his voice. I know the things he’s taught me that I’m implementing in my daily routine, my week and year and on and on. “Now to be reconnected with him and have that in-person accountability, it is something that’s good for me and that I enjoy and can recognize. I see it and I’m smiling about it and I love having these four races to work with him.’’ NBC has live coverage of the Motul Petit Le Mans beginning at noon ET Saturday, with a switch to NBCSN at 3 p.m. through the race’s conclusion. IMSA Radio also has complete coverage. |
