Jimmie Johnson is close to joining Chip Ganassi Racing’s IndyCar team beginning next year, and he will “work with the Ganassi organization to finalize sponsorship on a two-year program” for road and street course races, according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. The deal would “leave room for Johnson to compete in select NASCAR events because Ganassi fields only two cars in the Cup Series.” Landing sponsorship “is critical to the deal." Johnson said that his personal team has had "productive conversations with potential partners as his interest in IndyCar has increased.” Johnson said, “We have some options that are interested in taking those primary rights for all 12 races, but there could be a scenario where you break it off into three-to-four race blocs for sponsors in areas that are most important for them. But our goal is definitely to sell the primary spot to one and have that consistent look that I've had throughout my career.” Fryer notes Ganassi is “backed by Honda in IndyCar so it will bring a temporary end to Johnson's long relationship with Chevrolet” (AP, 9/9).