Jimmie Johnson's first Indianapolis 500 ended in disappointing fashion Sunday, with the former NASCAR star crashing on the 194th lap of the 200-lap race. Johnson's crash had a massive ripple effect on the race, with debris from his No. 48 car resulting in a red flag with just four laps remaining.
Johnson, who finished fifth at the Texas Grand Prix in March, was racing fairly well in his debut run at IndyCar's biggest event. Turn four, however, claimed another victim in Johnson after taking out Scott McLaughlin earlier in the race.
Had hit for Jimmie Johnson in the final laps of the #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/Izmxxq2MO2
— Racing RoundTable (@RacingRT1) May 29, 2022
It's a frustrating finish for Johnson, who is racing in his first full season in the IndyCar series. It will also have an effect on his team. Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson was leading the race at the time of the red flag, with Johnson's crash leading to a restart and a frantic scramble on the final four laps.
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Ericsson was able to hold off Pato O'Ward on the final few laps to claim his first Indy 500 win, with Johnson indirectly creating the thrilling finish.
RETWEET to congratulate Marcus Ericsson on winning the #Indy500! pic.twitter.com/Q4s3oid02u
— #Indy500 on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 29, 2022
Johnson appeared to be fine after the crash. In spite of him coming up short, going deep in the race in an IndyCar is a small victory in and of itself. He'll look to regroup moving forward, as he continues his IndyCar season and continues to search for his first career top-five finish in his second motorsport series.
"It's mixed emotions," Johnson said after the race, per the Indianapolis Star. "I really have higher expectations for where I run throughout the race. And I really just couldn't get through the field. And every time I'd set someone up for a pass ... The car would wash out and I'd lose one or two spots and just kept falling through the back of the field."
Johnson, however, was optimistic about what experience could bring.
"Need more experience, that part was a little frustrating. Just to not have the car that I needed in traffic. But I certainly learned a lot and a great experience out there."
