INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Two weeks ago, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson hopped on the phone with his former teammate Kyle Busch to get a feel for where Busch was in his life and career.It was a conversation Johnson will now cherish after Busch’s sudden death Thursday at 41, especially the part of the discussion that turned to Busch’s 11-year-old son, Brexton, an aspiring racer.“I felt like I had the more authentic Kyle than I’ve ever experienced,” Johnson told a pair of reporters on Friday, including one from The Athletic. “That maturation, and just to see a dad glow about his kid and really want to support and provide was really special.”Johnson said the two chatted because, as team owner of Legacy Motor Club, he’s “talking to everybody.” Busch was a pending free agent, and Johnson said conversations “give you perspective into all the other dominoes out there that you can only speculate about,” whether “we have a direct interest or not.”Once they spoke, Johnson got the impression Busch was “seeking more advice about Brexton’s journey” and future than his own.Busch was insistent that he had not lost any of his driving skills because of his age, and Johnson found it highly credible that Busch “believed he could still win races and championships.”