Start Your Engines! The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Starts Now!

Get ready for a fun ride! The NTT IndyCar Series gets in gear this weekend with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a 14-turn course that twists through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg, passing the world-famous Salvador Dali Museum before traveling down part of a runway at the Albert Whitted Airport, all while overlooking the stunning city waterfront. It’s a unique setting to kick off a new year of the fastest, most competitive and diverse form of all motorsports – INDYCAR racing!

There are so many exciting storylines to share … I’m not sure where to begin but here we go!

NTT is IndyCar Series new title sponsor

Earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, INDYCAR and NTT announced the two companies were teaming up, with NTT as the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series.

NTT is a global information technology and networking services giant with subsidiaries that operate in the U.S. and around the world. These include companies like Dimension Data, NTT Communications, and its largest U.S.-based company NTT DATA — a long-time supporter of INDYCAR and proud sponsor of Chip Ganassi Racing. Together, INDYCAR and NTT will drive digital innovations that enhance the fan experience, from the evolution of INDYCAR’s mobile application to the adoption of NTT’s proprietary Smart Platform for delivering better insights into the racing series.

Smart racing. Big results. NTT has the experience needed to elevate INDYCAR globally and build an unrivaled digital experience for the next generation of fans.

A powerful field of INDYCAR competitors for 2019

• Reigning and five-time series champion Scott Dixon piloting the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing is one of seven former INDYCAR season champions participating full-time in 2019. The others are Sebastien Bourdais, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Will Power, Simon Pagenaud and Josef Newgarden.
• Scott Dixon has 44 career race wins, a total that ranks behind only A.J. Foyt (67) and Mario Andretti (52) on the sport’s all-time list.
• Will Power has 54 career poles, a total that ranks behind only Mario Andretti (67) on the sport’s all-time list.
• A highly anticipated rookie class led by a pair of Swedes: Marcus Ericsson for Arrow Schmidt Petersen Racing and Felix Rosenqvist driving our own #10 NTT DATA Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. Colton Herta, Santino Ferrucci and Ben Hanley are other rookies to watch at the season-opening race.
• A year after four new teams joined the IndyCar Series – Carlin, Juncos Racing, Harding Steinbrenner Racing and Meyer Shank Racing – another new team has announced plans to participate this season: DragonSpeed.
• Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso returns for this year’s Indianapolis 500 as he seeks to complete auto racing’s Triple Crown (Monaco, Indianapolis and Le Mans).
• Throughout May, Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mario Andretti’s 1969 Indianapolis 500 victory.

Follow the Action

Watch on NBC Sports – INDYCAR’s new full-time broadcasting partner

NBC Sports platforms will be the exclusive home for INDYCAR video consumption beginning with the 2019 season, with fully produced programming featuring a talented stable of broadcasters. NTT IndyCar Series races will air live on NBC and NBCSN, with all on-track action, plus ancillary content and Indy Lights races, available on NBC’s subscription-based service, INDYCAR Pass on NBC Sports Gold.

Download the NTT INDYCAR Series mobile app

Get an all-access pass to your favorite drivers, teams and races. Now available to all, regardless of mobile carrier, the INDYCAR mobile app gives race fans the inside track on the NTT IndyCar Series. Download for iOS or Android

Highlights:

• Leaderboard with time and scoring updates in near real time, 2D track map and driver-specific telemetry
• Single sign-on so fans can enjoy the race across multiple Android and/or iOS devices, connect through social channels and access premium features
• Video including livestreams, highlight clips and race recaps
• Ability to choose a favorite driver or team and send them straight to the top of the app homepage so fans can stay up to date on what matters most
• Fully compatible with any mobile carrier
• Custom push notifications for race start times, news updates, track changes, weather delays and more

Women who drive INDYCAR

With International Women’s Day fast approaching, let’s celebrate some of the women who fuel IndyCar with their endless talents. Here are some recent news story’s featuring these talented women.

• Industry Veteran bolters INDYCAR Marketing, Communications — SJ Luedtke, a Nike sports marketing executive for the past decade, has been hired as INDYCAR’s Vice President, Marketing. She will be responsible for advancing INDYCAR’s brand across all channels, managing event and experiential assets, accelerating fan growth and engagement and working with media partners to drive consumption and ratings.
• Ganassi Duo makes history with Dixon's fifth IndyCar title — Kate Gundlach, assistant engineer on the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and Danielle Shepherd, data engineer on Dixon’s car, made history at Sonoma Raceway as the first women to earn IndyCar championships from the engineering stand.
• Pippa Mann to contest Indy 500 with Clauson-Marshall Racing
  
• Meet Cara Adams, the Only Female Chief Engineer at the Indy 500