CONCORD, N.C. -- The offseason may still be in full swing, but the 2016 season is rapidly approaching.
One tell-tale sign was the sight of cars on the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Jimmie Johnson represented Hendrick Motorsports as one of four drivers participating in a Goodyear tire test this week in Las Vegas.
"I was in full offseason mode and then after the first run yesterday, there's no other way to get that smile," Johnson said after Wednesday's test session. "Nice way to remember how cool my job is and have some fun."
With a new racing package in place for the 2016 season, the Las Vegas test was designed to help develop a tire to match the new rules.
Johnson said he already noticed a difference from the last time he tested on a track.
"In developing the tire to go with this rules package, things are acting a little different than we expected," he explained. "I was at the Kansas test with this package and tire and we were able to create a lot of fall-off. But with these cool conditions and the surface here just being so good still, it's been tough to create the fall-off that we're all looking for. So, bottom line is we're just fast."
Regardless, he expects a different result when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns for the March race.
"We'll come back for the race, the sun will be out, hopefully we'll get the fall-off we're looking for and the track will be loose and the grip will be slick."
The driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet SS said he was glad to "knock the rust off" by getting back in the car, but it will make the wait until February's trip to Daytona International Speedway seem that much longer.
"We'll go home, kind of sit for a month until we go to Daytona and get to work," he said. "All-in-all it's very beneficial for our team to come out (to the test). I'm thankful that we got this opportunity."