IndyCar: NTT named series title sponsor for 2019 and beyond

Global information technology and communications leader NTT has signed a multiyear agreement to become the new title sponsor of IndyCar.

After serving as the title sponsor of IndyCar since the 2014 season, Verizon announced in October of 2017 that they would not be renewing their contract to continue serving as the title sponsor of the series following the conclusion of the 2018 season, although they are still set to sponsor Team Penske.

After five seasons of Verizon serving as IndyCar’s title sponsor, a new title sponsor for the series has been announced. Beginning in the 2019 season, global information technology and communications leader NTT, which stands for Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, is set to be the title sponsor of the series.

The Tokyo, Japan-based company signed a multiyear agreement to become the title sponsor of the series. This announcement was made during media days for the North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center in Detroit Michigan.

NTT Data, which is a United States-based NTT subsidiary that is headquartered in Plano, Texas, has been a sponsor for Chip Ganassi Racing since the 2013 season.

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Here is what Mark Miles, the president and CEO of Hulman & Company, the company that owns IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, had to say about NTT coming on board as IndyCar’s new title sponsor for the 2019 season and beyond, according to IndyCar.

"“Having a strong technology partner is critically important to INDYCAR’s continued growth, so we are thrilled to welcome NTT as our new title sponsor. INDYCAR’s rise in popularity is a testament to the fact that we’ve made the sport as accessible as possible to our fans, and we plan to continue in that mission.“We have a history with NTT through NTT DATA’s involvement in the sport with Chip Ganassi Racing. We know this partnership will help us attract the next generation of fans to what remains the most competitive racing program on the planet.”"

Here is what Jun Sawada, the president and CEO of NTT, had to say about the matter, according to IndyCar.

"“NTT is proud to be associated with INDYCAR and accelerate the future of smart racing. Technological innovations have the potential to change the sport and fan experience drastically.“NTT, along with our partners, aims to bring the Smart World to life as we have done for Smart City, Smart Entertainment, Smart Mobility and Smart Manufacturing. Based on our lengthy and successful experience, including work in mobile applications, analytics and user experience, we will help to create the next generation of fans globally who aspire to enjoy racing through a more digital experience with INDYCAR.”"

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The 2019 IndyCar season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 10 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg from the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, and it is scheduled to last for nearly six and a half months, as the season finale, the IndyCar Monterey Grand Prix, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 22 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

The 2019 season is scheduled to consist of 17 races at 15 different venues. Of these 17 races, seven are set to be held at natural terrain road courses while five are set to be held at temporary street circuits and five are set to be held at oval tracks. Click here to see the TV schedule for the 2019 season.