Ruling Indy NXT champ Nikita Johnson is stepping up to the leading tier of American open-wheel racing. Dale Coyne Racing revealed today that the 18-year-old Floridian will pilot among the group’s Honda-powered entries full-time in the 2027 IndyCar Series as an ENVE-sponsored professional athlete.
The 17-race IndyCar schedule begins March 7 in Johnson’s home town with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg– a track where he has actually developed an amazing performance history. Johnson formerly declared season-opening triumphes at St. Petersburg throughout 3 various ladder series: Indy NXT (2026 ), USF Pro 2000 (2024 ), and USF2000 (2023 ).
Johnson shows up in IndyCar as one of the sport’s most engaging young skills following a record-breaking 2026 project. Last season, he ended up being the youngest champ in Indy NXT history at 18 years, 3 months, and 12 days old. En path to the title, he scored triumphes at St. Petersburg and the Grand Prix of Alabama, acquired 9 podiums and 10 top-five surfaces, and completed in the leading 8 in all 17 races. He was likewise the only chauffeur in the series to finish each and every single lap of the 656-lap season.
“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 stated. “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.”
Before recording his Indy NXT crown, Johnson invested years gradually rising. He completed as vice champ in USF Pro 2000 in 2024 and USF2000 in 2023. Broadening his reach overseas in 2025, he completed in the GB3 Championship at simply 16 years of ages, protecting unforgettable success at Zandvoort and the historical Brands Hatch circuit.
“This is a great opportunity for DCR to sign a young and talented driver with an impressive résumé,” stated group owner Dale Coyne. “Nikita has raced many types of cars and has gained great experience in the USA with Indy NXT, the USF series, Formula Regional in New Zealand, and GB3 and F3 in England and Europe.”
In addition to ENVE, Johnson will bring assistance from AI-powered monetary platform and digital wallet OnlyBulls, which enters its 3rd successive season as a significant team-wide partner of Dale Coyne Racing.
Johnson likewise ends up being the 3rd ENVE-sponsored professional athlete contending throughout the IndyCar environment in 2027, signing up with IndyCar Series chauffeur Mick Schumacher and Indy NXT motorist Matteo Nannini. ENVE Composites, a PV3 Enterprises business, just recently deepened its dedication to the sport through the launch of ENVE Motorsports, which fields entries in both USF2000 and Indy NXT.
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