NTT DATA to sponsor both Kanaan and Dixon at Long Beach
Chip Ganassi Racing has announced that four-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon will run NTT DATA colors at this weekend’s second round of the season, as the team keeps looking for a permanent replacement for Target.
Photo by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images
NTT DATA, which is in its fifth season of partnering with Ganassi, has been a full-time primary sponsor in IndyCar since 2014 and is currently the primary sponsor on Tony Kanaan’s #10 Ganassi-Honda.
The company served as an associate-level partner of Dixon's #9 car in the season opener in St. Petersburg (GE Lighting served as primary sponsor) and NTT DATA will be present at associate level for both Phoenix and Indianapolis.
John McCain, NTT DATA’s CEO, said: "Having the opportunity to be represented by two of the all-time greats in IndyCar is something that doesn’t come along too often. The team is off to a fast start in 2017, and adding Scott to our lineup gives us another level of visibility, and doubles our chances of getting to victory lane."
Dixon added: “This will be a bit of déjà vu for TK and I, going back to when he first joined the team in 2014 and we were in similar livery with the same partner [Target]. NTT DATA has been a great supporter of our IndyCar program for several seasons now, and I look forward to contributing to their program and delivering for them on track.”
Steve Lauletta, Ganassi president, stated: “NTT DATA is not only on our racecars, but they also use their technological expertise to help in numerous other aspects of the race team, so this relationship has been a great fit for both parties over the years. In addition to that, it’s always a positive when you have a current partner that sees value in the sport and wants to do more. I think that really speaks to the success of the program for their business.
“We had an opportunity early in the season to align their focus markets with the No. 9 car, which resulted in an expansion of their racing program. While this allows NTT DATA more opportunity with two cars in the short term – much like Target did previously in their key markets – we are still focused on locking in a full-time partner for the No. 9 car in 2017.”
Target’s involvement in Ganassi IndyCar operation ended in September last year, after a 27-year run.
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