Jimmie Johnson wrecks Connor Zilisch, Cole Custer during Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

Jimmie Johnson is done for the day. Connor Zilisch and Cole Custer survived but likely have damage. Zilisch is the youngest driver to ever start in the Coca-Cola 600. He took a photo with Johnson before the race, shades of Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty racing each other years ago at Atlanta. An all-time great of the sport and potentially the future face of the sport in the same race.

Earlier this season, Johnson made a great run in the Daytona 500. He was P3 in the race. Today was the 700th Cup Series start of Johnson’s career, a milestone that few have reached before in the sport. It ends early with the slap against the wall and into the No. 87 and No. 41 cars.

This 600-mile race tests endurance and physical and mental fortitude. As the night goes on, the track will change and we will see comers and goers as cars adjust, pick up speed or struggle and begin to slow down.

Jimmie Johnson went from Indy to Charlotte today

Earlier today, Jimmie Johnson did his own Double of sorts. He wasn’t going to attempt the 1100 miles that Kyle Larson tried to do. However, he was part of the pre-race festivities with another seven-time champion.

Johnson took Tom Brady for a ride around in the two-seater. Brady has done a lot in his career, but he’s never gone as fast as he did today. Johnson joked that he wanted to make the NFL icon sick, but I think he took it a little easy on him at Indianapolis.

Johnson was on the helicopter and then the plane to Charlotte soon after the start of the Indy 500. Alex Palou went on to win in a chaotic race. There were wrecks and pit road issues, and about everything you could imagine happening in a race happened. The three-time IndyCar champ is well on his way to his fourth.

Today’s Coca-Cola 600 ends early for Jimmie Johnson. A shame. While he doesn’t have any other starts scheduled for this season, Johnson has expressed a desire to race more this year. And don’t worry, his 700th start is not going to be his last. He plans to race in 2026 as well.