Nikita Johnson will join the NTT IndyCar Series full-time in 2027, driving for Dale Coyne Racing after winning the 2026 Indy NXT championship.
The 18-year-old Floridian is scheduled to make his series debut on March 7 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
A Record-Breaking Path to IndyCar
His championship campaign was marked by extreme consistency, as he finished in the top eight in all 17 races and completed every one of the 656 laps in the season. This performance established him as the only driver to complete every lap of the 2026 campaign.
Before his breakthrough in Indy NXT, Johnson climbed the racing ladder with notable success. In 2023, he became the youngest race winner in USF2000 history by winning at the season opener at St. Petersburg. His developmental years included vice-champion honors in the USF Pro 2000 Series in 2024 and the USF2000 Series in 2023.
In 2025, he expanded his international experience by competing in the GB3 Championship, where he secured victories at the historic Brands Hatch circuit in England and Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands at just 16 years old. He also finished third in the Formula Regional Oceania championship in New Zealand during 2026.
Coyne said that Johnson’s experience includes racing in the U.S. with Indy NXT and the USF series, as well as Formula Regional in New Zealand and GB3 and F3 competition in England and Europe.
Johnson Targets Podiums After Testing with Dale Coyne Racing
Johnson tested with Dale Coyne Racing at Barber Motorsports Park in October, where he shared the car with Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne. Following that test, Johnson said that moving to the NTT IndyCar Series felt like a natural progression. He specifically cited adjusting to carbon-ceramic brakes as a primary technical learning curve.
Regarding his expectations for his first season, Johnson emphasized a measured approach to the competitive field. “How I look at it is getting a few podiums, which is always possible,” Johnson said.
“It’s going to be hard to get a win just because IndyCar is such a challenging series. If you could get a win in your rookie year, I think that would be amazing.” He established his primary objectives as winning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing within the top 15 or 16 in the final championship standings.
Johnson acknowledged that he has always preferred smaller teams, having found success with Cape Motorsports in the developmental ranks. He said that he feels comfortable with the passion shown by the staff at Dale Coyne Racing.
“I’m happy to bring the car home in one piece and let everybody from the team relax and not have to rebuild the car every time I’m out there like some drivers,” Johnson added. “That’s going to be my goal for next year. Racing is expensive. I’ve got to make smart decisions.”
ENVE Composites Supports Johnson's Entry into the Series
Johnson’s entry into the series is supported by ENVE Composites and the AI-powered platform OnlyBulls. Johnson joins NTT IndyCar Series driver Mick Schumacher and Indy NXT competitor Matteo Nannini as the third ENVE-sponsored athlete competing in the 2027 IndyCar season.
The move leaves Dale Coyne Racing with one vacancy to fill for the 2027 season. This marks the 15th straight season that the team has rostered an IndyCar rookie. Johnson enters the field alongside other confirmed rookies, such as Josh Pierson at A.J. Foyt Racing.
“I want to thank Dale Coyne and everyone on the team for this amazing opportunity, together with OnlyBulls and my partners PV3 Enterprises/ENVE,” Johnson said.
“I would also like to thank my family for their unwavering support and my management team for working with Dale Coyne to take the next step in my career. I am focused on working with the DCR team to maximize this opportunity at the top level of motorsports.”
The rookie aims for several milestones during the 2027 season. While Colton Herta remains the youngest IndyCar race winner at 18 years, 11 months, and 25 days, Johnson aims to join the rare list of teenage winners in the series. He will turn 19 on May 25, 2027.