Nikita Johnson Looks To Extend Youth Movement at Arlington

Nikita Johnson and Max Taylor opened the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season in dominating fashion at St. Petersburg.

Taylor topped both practice sessions and earned the pole for the season opener. Johnson started alongside him on the front row and used a move he said was taught to him by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday to pass Taylor on the opening lap.

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Johnson (photo, top) then led all 42 laps to claim his first series victory in just his fourth career start.

It continued a pattern of success for the 17-year-old, who has won races in every professional season he has competed. Johnson earned three victories in USF Juniors in 2022, followed by one win in USF2000 and two in USF Pro 2000 in 2023. He dominated the 2024 USF Pro 2000 season with eight wins and added two victories in the GB3 Championship. Last year, he also captured a win in Formula Regional Oceania.

Johnson enters Sunday’s Grand Prix of Arlington as the championship leader. The race airs at 11 a.m. ET on FS1, FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.

Here are five storylines to follow this weekend.

Can Johnson Win Again?

Java House is a fitting title sponsor for this weekend’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES inaugural event, the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington airing Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports app, FOX Deportes, INDYCAR Radio, powered by OnlyBulls.

The brand also sponsors Johnson’s No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR entry and teammate Matteo Nannini’s No. 20 car.

After Johnson’s victory at St. Petersburg, the team arrives in Texas with momentum. The question now is whether Johnson can deliver a second consecutive win.

Few drivers have accomplished that feat to start an INDY NXT season. Last year’s champion Dennis Hauger was the first to do it since Ed Jones in 2015.

The list of drivers who opened a season with two straight wins is short: Paul Tracy (1990), Greg Moore (1995), David Empringham (1996), Scott Dixon (2000), Mark Taylor (2003), Alex Lloyd (2007), Junior Strous (2009) and J.K. Vernay (2010).

Johnson can join that group Sunday.

Hughes, Rowe Need a Response

Two preseason championship favorites -- Lochie Hughes and Myles Rowe -- left St. Petersburg needing more speed.

Neither driver consistently topped the speed charts during offseason testing, either. Rowe, a two-time winner last season, was never higher than fifth in testing sessions. Hughes (photo, above), the top returning point scorer from 2025, typically appeared fourth or lower.

The pair finished third (Hughes) and fourth (Rowe) in last year’s championship standings but enter the Arlington weekend fifth and sixth in points. Hughes trails leader Johnson by 24 points, while Rowe sits 26 back.

Hughes started and finished second in last year’s St. Petersburg opener but qualified fourth and finished fifth this season. Rowe improved one position on race day, climbing from seventh to sixth.

Both drivers view 2026 as a championship-or-bust season.

Hughes is an Andretti Global development driver who tested an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car for the team last fall on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. His goal is to deliver Andretti Global its eighth INDY NXT championship and third in a row while earning a promotion to the next level.

Rowe enters his third season after improving from 11th to fourth in points last year. Another step forward is necessary if he hopes to remain in the championship fight.

Fittipaldi Already Playing Catch-Up

HMD Motorsports rookie Enzo Fittipaldi (photo, above) was widely considered a championship contender entering the season.

The 24-year-old grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi showed speed throughout offseason testing. He finished third during the fall test at Barber Motorsports Park and ranked first or second in all four sessions in January at Sebring International Raceway. He also placed in the top four in nearly every session during testing at Miami International Autodrome.

But the season opener went sideways.

Fittipaldi crashed during qualifying at St. Petersburg and started 24th. He recovered to finish 17th but sits 41 points behind Johnson after one race.

Another difficult weekend would create an even larger deficit in a championship season.

Youth Movement on Display

The St. Petersburg podium finishers (photo, above) had an average age of just 18.

Johnson, 17, won the race. Taylor, 18, finished second. HMD Motorsports rookie Tymek Kucharczyk, who turned 20 on Feb. 27, completed the podium.

The youth movement continued just behind them. Seb Murray, 18, finished fourth for Andretti Global.

More experienced drivers followed, including Hughes (23), Rowe (25), Josh Pierson (20), Salvador de Alba (26) and J.M. Correa (26).

The question entering Arlington is whether the veterans will strike back or if the young stars will continue to set the pace.

A Brand-New Track

Every driver will face the same challenge this weekend: learning a new circuit.

None of the 24 drivers in the field have raced on the Arlington street course before Friday’s opening practice session at 3 p.m. ET on FS2.

At St. Petersburg, 18 drivers had previous experience on the circuit through INDY NXT or junior formula races. That familiarity is gone this weekend.

The new track could level the playing field and create opportunities for drivers deeper in the field.

Track specs: 2.73-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit