Jimmie Johnson jumped on a bike and explored his way through a new Alabama enclosure. He halted to incline toward a pile of tires for a fast discussion with youth legend Rick Mears, at that point went to chip away at his new profession.

The seven-time NASCAR champion turned 22 laps in the principal IndyCar practice of the period Saturday morning. He was the slowest of the 24-vehicle field however excited with the experience.

“Stunning. What a surge,” he said. “These vehicles are so physical, so requesting. It’s not a few laps in and tongues hanging out gasping, simply wrestling this beast around the circuit. Fun-meter is fixed, without a doubt.”

Johnson will be a 45-year-old new kid on the block when he takes the green banner Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park, a beautiful perpetual street course found about a short ways from Talladega Superspeedway, where Johnson won twice in his celebrated NASCAR vocation.

However, he needed another test and he’ll get that in IndyCar.

He’s important for a stacked new kid on the block class that incorporates previous Formula One driver Romain Grosjean, hustling interestingly this end of the week since he was gravely singed in a November crash in Bahrain, and three-time shielding Australian Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin.

McLaughlin was eighth quickest in first practice while Grosjean, who turned 35 on Saturday, was 21st.

It was Alex Palou, a second-year IndyCar driver yet in his first season with Chip Ganassi Racing, who drove the meeting. The Spaniard has been quick through preseason testing and dominated the four-driver setup of six-time champion Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and Johnson the entire winter.

Colton Herta was second quickest by and by and followed by Josef Newgarden, Dixon, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and Will Power.

There is a second practice Saturday evening followed by an evening qualifying meeting.

Sunday’s race is sold out with limit covered at 20,000 000 participants — a figure that incorporates onlookers and disseminated certifications to supports, merchants, race faculty and volunteers.