NASCAR Cup Series

Jimmie Johnson and Fernando Alonso to swap race cars

Published Nov. 2, 2018 6:27 p.m. ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson and Fernando Alonso will swap race cars following Alonso's final Formula One race.

The championship drivers have been teasing the Nov. 26 swap in Bahrain on their social media accounts for about a month and finally revealed Friday what they have been plotting.

Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion, will travel to London after the season finale for a seat fitting and time in the McLaren simulator. He will attend the F1 finale in Abu Dhabi, which is Alonso's final race before the two-time world champion leaves the series.

Johnson and Alonso will then travel to Bahrain after the F1 finale for the ride swap. A Hendrick Motorsports stock car was shipped last month to Bahrain in a container that included tires and equipment for a full day run. Hendrick Motorsports is also providing a crew to work with Alonso when he drives the Chevrolet.

The idea was formed during a chance January meeting in a waiting area at the Charlotte Convention Center. Johnson was at NASCAR's preseason media availability, and Alonso was brought to the event by IMSA to promote the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.