Nikita Johnson spent his teenage years working toward the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. On Oct. 26, the 18-year-old got his first taste of what it takes to compete at the sport’s highest level.

2026 INDY NXT by Firestone champion Johnson tested INDYCAR SERIES machinery at Barber Motorsports Park, sharing a Dale Coyne Racing entry with FIA Formula 2 standout Alex Dunne, who drove the car on the 2.3-mile Alabama road course during the morning session. Johnson took over in the afternoon. The test offered Johnson an opportunity to experience the physical demands of INDYCAR SERIES machinery as he looks toward the next chapter of his career in 2027.

“It was great,” Johnson said. “It was faster, more downforce. It was surreal. I watched this (series) forever. To finally be here was so special. It’s just everything I hoped for. More horsepower, more physical, more of everything. It’s just amazing.”

The St. Petersburg, Florida, native arrived fresh off an INDY NXT season in which he recorded two wins, eight podium finishes and 10 top-five results. He finished in the top 10 in all 17 races and completed every lap, the only driver in the field to accomplish those feats. Dunne entered the test third in the FIA Formula 2 standings after finishing fifth in the championship as a rookie last season.

Johnson’s championship came with an incentive package that could help him secure an INDYCAR SERIES opportunity for 2027, making Monday’s test a significant step in his development. He admitted he experienced some nerves as he waited for his turn in the car.

“I spent all morning waiting,” Johnson said. “How is this car going to act? How am I to compare it? To finally get in it, it was crazy to finally feel it.”

Barber was a fitting place for Johnson’s first experience in an INDYCAR SERIES car. He had four previous starts at the circuit, including a third- and fifth-place finish in USF Juniors in 2022 and a victory and a third-place result during his INDY NXT championship season.

“Great place to do it,” Johnson said. “Very happy to get it out of the system and just keep learning.”

There are adjustments to make, particularly under braking. The carbon brakes used in INDYCAR SERIES cars deliver a different level of stopping power than Johnson experienced in INDY NXT and the other junior series in which he has competed, which featured steel brakes.

“Everything was pretty spot on today,” Johnson said. “We did pretty well. Only little things I need to work on is the braking. I’ve got to get used to that stopping power.”

Nikita Johnson

Johnson (photo, above) has made a career being able to make quick adjustments. He has established himself as one of the most successful young drivers in motorsports. Johnson earned three USF Juniors victories in 2022, followed by one USF2000 win and two USF Pro 2000 victories in 2023. After moving to USF Pro 2000 late that season, he won at Circuit of The Americas at age 15, becoming the youngest race winner in series history.

He finished runner-up in the USF2000 championship in 2023 and second in the USF Pro 2000 championship in 2024, when he won eight races. That same year, he added two victories in the GB3 Championship and became the youngest race winner in that series’ history with a victory at Zandvoort at age 16. He also won a race in Formula Regional Oceania in 2025.

Johnson last season became the youngest INDY NXT champion at 18 years, 3 months and 12 days old. His INDY NXT victory in the 2026 season opener at St. Petersburg also made him the second-youngest race winner in series history, at 17 years, 9 months.

If Johnson makes his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut next season on the St. Petersburg streets on Sunday, March 7, he would be 18 years, 9 months and 13 days old. That allows him to join a select group of drivers who started a series race at 18 or younger.

Nelson Philippe holds the record as the youngest driver to start an INDYCAR SERIES race, at 17 years, 8 months and 25 days, when he competed April 18, 2004, at Long Beach. Graham Rahal is second youngest, having made his debut April 8, 2007, at Las Vegas, at 18 years, 3 months and 4 days. Andrew Ranger, Colton Herta and A.J. Foyt IV also made series starts at 18 or younger.

Herta remains the youngest race winner in series history, having won at Circuit of The Americas in 2019 at 18 years, 11 months and 25 days. Rahal and Marco Andretti are the only other drivers to win an INDYCAR SERIES race as teenagers.

Johnson has long had his sights set on reaching the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, with the goal of advancing through the ranks as quickly as possible. Monday’s test brought him one step closer to understanding what that next challenge will require.

“I always knew that I was going to try to fast track to get here,” Johnson said. “We always had the goal to be the youngest at everything. I knew I was going to be young, I just didn’t realize it was going to be this soon.”

Johnson takes the same approach for a potential NTT INDYCAR SERIES opportunity that carried him to an INDY NXT championship.

“Just one day at a time,” he said. “That’s what I thought about when I won my INDY NXT championship. Take it one day at a time and keep learning.”