Johnson's new ride

CONCORD, N.C. -- "I've made references about how bad my race car was driving, that it drove like a tank, so today I will find out if that's really true," Jimmie Johnson laughed.

Tuesday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet SS helped preview October's Bank of America 500 in a unique way.

That is, he got inside a tank. In fact, he drove it over two cars in the infield.

So how does his analogy hold up?

"The comparison's fair -- it didn't turn very well," Johnson laughed afterward. "I just feel bad tearing up your grass like that. I tried to be easy on the go-kart track."

The idea behind the venture was to help express thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces. Just before the command to start the engines when the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway in October, Bank of America will ask every person in attendance to stand and salute service men and women attending the race and around the world.

For each participant, the bank will donate $1 to the Wounded Warrior Project and Welcome Back Veterans. Fans at home can also participate by tweeting using #troopthanks, and the bank will donate $1 for every message of gratitude toward the troops.

"I'm glad to be here to talk about it and kind of carry that banner today," Johnson said.

The tank Johnson drove served in World War II, and was part of the Battle of the Bulge. 

"It's cool to be in it," Johnson said. "My grandfather spent a lot of time, I believe, in one of these tanks. I know he was in a tank in World War II. I'll have to ask my dad and find out if it was the same one. It's wild to think about a two- or three-man crew riding around in one of those things fighting bad guys."

Johnson said that his years of experience riding on tractors with his dad came into play, and it felt just like driving a bulldozer or similar bulky equipment.

What stood out to the driver the most was the noise -- the engine had to be shut off in order for Johnson to receive instructions on how to drive it.

After all that, is Johnson interested in buying a tank of his own?

"No. I'm good," he laughed. "I've got some old cars that are pretty big and heavy that drive tank-ish, so I'm pretty good."