Palou, NTT DATA Celebrate First NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship

PLANO, Texas – September 27, 2021 – NTT DATA has long established itself as a trusted global innovator of IT and a business services leader, and now can add NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion sponsor to its list of accomplishments.

Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou (pronounced Pa-LOW) provided his primary car sponsor NTT DATA with a ride of a lifetime by clinching the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in Sunday’s season finale in Long Beach, Calif. Driving the No. 10 NTT DATA Honda, Palou finished fourth in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach to earn the championship by 38 points over Josef Newgarden of Team Penske.

The series title was the first for Palou, who delivered Chip Ganassi Racing its 14th INDYCAR championship in his first season with the organization and second overall in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The series crown also was the first for NTT DATA as a primary sponsor since entering the sport with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2013. NTT DATA, part of NTT Group, has been associated specifically with the No. 10 car as a primary sponsor since 2015.

“What a race, what a year, what a season,” Palou said. “This team is amazing. I’m super proud to be a part of Chip Ganassi Racing and to have a partner like NTT DATA and all our partners. I’m super proud to be a champion and for the opportunity these guys gave me.

“Dream completed. Let’s get another one now.”

The series title highlighted a banner season for Palou, who recorded his first three career victories and finished runner-up in the historic Indianapolis 500 in May. He becomes the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion from Spain and also the seventh-youngest champ in history at 24 years, 5 months and 25 days.

“It was a competitive and challenging season, and we appreciate how resilient Alex and the #10 crew were. Making the most of every situation and focusing on what they could control were key to their championship run,” said Mona Charif, chief marketing officer of NTT DATA Services. “The competitiveness of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES mirrors the environment that our clients face. Shared values of performance, innovation, focus, dedication and teamwork are what attract NTT DATA to Chip Ganassi Racing’s INDYCAR team – winning with them feels as good as winning with our clients.”

In addition to the sponsorship of Palou’s No. 10 entry, NTT DATA also served as the associate sponsor of the No. 9 Honda driven by Scott Dixon; primary and associate partner of the No. 48 driven by both Jimmie Johnson and Tony Kanaan; and the Official IT Services Partner to Chip Ganassi Racing.