NASCARs Le Mans seats go to Johnson, Rockenfeller, Button

News Summary

  • “As a lifelong racing fan, I have always dreamed of racing certain cars, with and against certain drivers and competing in certain events,” Button said.
  • He has driven the car at every on-track test and spent countless hours behind the wheel in the simulator.“It has been a great journey so far with the whole team and project,” Rockenfeller said.
  • Hendrick and General Motors have been tasked with the project, but NASCAR has opened the data to all the manufacturers after others complained Garage 56 gave one organization and one manufacturer unfair access to a car everyone is still learning.
  • Johnson had been actively recruiting Button, both drivers said Saturday, but the 51-year-old Gordon was trying to get back into racing shape and even participated in an IMSA-sanctioned race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in September.
  • “Since the beginning of the Garage 56 project, it has been our goal to partner with the top racers in the world to represent us in Le Mans,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France said.
  • Jordan Taylor, who currently competes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for Corvette Racing, will serve as the backup driver and driver coach.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller and Jenson Button will drive the special Garage 56 car that will race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.Johnson, a seventime NASCAR cham [+5464 chars]