Johnson to Debut IndyCar at St. Petersburg

Nikita Johnson will make his NTT IndyCar Series debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in March, joining Dale Coyne Racing for the 2027 season. The 18-year-old, who recently clinched the Indy NXT by Firestone championship, replaces the team’s No. 19 Honda. Johnson, born on May 25, 2008—the same day Scott Dixon won the Indianapolis 500—described the move as a dream come true.

Financial backing and team fit

Johnson will race with support from ENVE and Only Bulls. He spoke highly of the team during a Tuesday news conference, noting the passion of the staff after just one test day at Barber Motorsports Park. “I can already tell from only working with them one test day and being in the shop one day,” Johnson said. “They have an extreme amount of passion for this. They love it so much.”

Johnson has a history with smaller squads, having driven for Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR in Indy NXT. He said he prefers smaller teams because they are less likely to get “overcomplicated, lost in the talk.” The decision to join Coyne was influenced by his comfort level during testing and the team’s history of success.

Johnson noted that securing the deal took time. “Every interview people were asking, ‘When is it going to be done?’ We were trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together,” he said. The budget discussions and contract details occupied the months following his championship win in Laguna.

Goals and preparation for the IndyCar debut

Johnson hopes to register “a few podiums, which is always possible.” He said he figures “it’s going to be hard to get a win, just because IndyCar is such a challenging series. Johnson’s primary goal is to become Rookie of the Year and finish in the top 15 or 16 of the championship. “I’m going to try to be smart and keep myself in good positions and not crash,” he said. “I’m just going to prioritize keeping the car in one piece. Any points is better than no points.

The driver will spend a lot of time in the gym and on the sim. He emphasized that he will train very hard.

Adjusting to IndyCar competition

He faces challenges beyond the cars themselves. Pit stops are not part of Indy NXT, but Johnson brings experience from IMSA with RLL Team McLaren. “I think I have a good baseline on how to do pit stops correctly,” he said.

The biggest technical hurdle is braking. Johnson’s test at Barber was his first time driving with carbon brakes. He described the sensation of the bite point and the need to warm the brakes as a natural progression rather than an insurmountable gap. “I think before St. Pete, it should be out of the way and not an issue,” he said.

Dale Coyne Racing is expected to announce a teammate for Johnson soon, leaving Juncos Hollinger Racing as the final team to reveal its 2027 intentions.

The Indianapolis 500 opportunity

He views the event as a major milestone in his career. He sees the event as a bucket list item for his rookie season.

Johnson expressed excitement about driving the rectangular-shaped track. He looks forward to turning laps and starting the Indy 500. Johnson feels no intimidation regarding the race’s mystique and history. “For me there’s a lot of history,” he said. “I’ve always watched that, because it’s been on my birthday weekend. I was born on it. To be in it is a dream come true. I also love ovals. Even though this is not exactly a regular oval, it is rectangular-ish a little bit, it’s going to be very fun. I’m just excited to get out there in May and turn some laps. Just starting the Indy 500, qualifying for it. That would be really high up on my bucket list.”

Training and preparation

Johnson will face a steep learning curve in the series. His experience with IMSA provides a foundation for his learning. Johnson is ready to focus on racing and performance. He is eager to prove his skills in the NTT IndyCar Series.