As Speedcafe reports, the American open-wheel racing ladder has produced another star as 18-year-old Johnson makes the definitive leap into IndyCar. The youngster's journey to the top tier took him through USF2000, USF Pro 200, and Indy NXT, alongside a campaign last year in Formula Regional Oceania in New Zealand with M2 Competition where he finished third behind Arvid Lindblad and Zack Scoular.
This season's Indy NXT campaign was a masterclass in consistency. Johnson secured two wins and nine podium finishes, never crossing the line lower than eighth, to crown himself the youngest Indy NXT champion in history. Now, the reward is an IndyCar seat and a debut at St Petersburg—a venue where he has already tasted victory for the last three consecutive years across Indy NXT, USF Pro 200, and USF2000.
It wasn't too big of a jump. I think it was a natural progression how it should be,
Stepping into the elite category as a rookie brings immense pressure, but Johnson has set clear and ambitious targets. He is aiming to claim Rookie of the Year honours and finish between 15th and 16th in the championship standings, while also keeping his sights set on podium finishes. "For me, I look at it as 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." Earning a rookie podium is no small feat in this championship, with the last newcomer to achieve the feat being Christian Lundgaard with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2022 at Indianapolis.
Transitioning to the heavy-hitting machinery of IndyCar might terrify most teenagers, but Johnson found the jump surprisingly manageable. He noted that the most significant adjustment was getting used to the carbon-ceramic brakes, specifically learning how to warm them up and mastering the bite point. Despite warnings from others that the machines would prove overwhelmingly physical, the rookie sailed through his first day of running without issue.
"It wasn't too big of a jump. I think it was a natural progression how it should be," Johnson explained, though he intends to keep up his training regime to make life easier behind the wheel. While Johnson's side of the garage is taking shape, his teammate is still to be confirmed. However, the squad has recently evaluated FIA Formula 2 Championship race winner and Alpine junior Alex Dunne during a test.
