APP EXCLUSIVE: NTT, INDYCAR celebrate one-year anniversary

Today, NTT and INDYCAR celebrate the one-year anniversary of the data services company becoming the title sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR Series. It was Jan. 16, 2019 when NTT and INDYCAR announced the sponsorship agreement at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The above photograph of Tony Kanaan, NTT's Tsunehisa Okuno and Scott Dixon was taken at the event.

NTT enjoyed a highly-successful first season as INDYCAR’s sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR Series in 2019. The partnership between NTT and the most competitive form of motorsports is ready for a new season, and a new decade, in 2020.

David Croxville, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NTT DATA Services, said it's been a successful first year and is excited about the prospects for the future.

“I think it’s been fantastic,” Croxville told NTT INDYCAR Mobile App. “We’ve had a long association with the sport at NTT DATA Services. Bringing NTT in as the title sponsor has brought awareness to a lot of people as NTT expands in the United States.”

NTT DATA began its association with the sport in 2015 when it partnered with Chip Ganassi Racing. NTT DATA is the primary sponsor of the team's No. 10 car driven by Felix Rosenqvist, last year's Rookie of the Year in the series.

Croxville (pictured with Simon Pagenaud) said NTT leadership saw tremendous potential in the INDYCAR Series, and company executives were introduced at Sonoma Raceway, the season-ending race of 2018. A short three months later, a deal was completed.

As NTT celebrates its anniversary as series sponsor, Croxville is particularly proud of one item: the NTT INDYCAR Mobile App.

“The INDYCAR Mobile App is a huge success for us with the number of hits we get and the exposure we get,” Croxville said. “It’s been very successful for us.”

Led by the on-track success of Swedish drivers Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson, Sweden has become one of the top countries for INDYCAR Mobile App downloads. A popular feature is the "Live Race Center" where fans can access real-time telemetry, driver track positions and in-car camera footage. Rosenqvist's in-car camera gets some of the most traffic during a race weekend.

NTT also was active at the track with corporate entertainment, connecting businesses with other businesses and potential partners.

“(Corporate entertainment) is probably the main reason we got into this in the first place,” Croxville said. “Having the ability to get our clients, and prospective clients, out to the track and give them the kind of exposure you get with the INDYCAR Series is unparalleled with any other sport. You don’t get that kind of exposure and interface with the drivers anywhere else.

“When we get people to the track, they love (the experience), and they are excited about it. Because of that, they want to be involved. For us as a business, it’s all about building relationships.”

The NTT Performance Pit is also a popular feature for the company. The pit is actually a suite located on pit lane where customers and potential clients can experience INDYCAR up close.

“It’s always fun when you have people that are experiencing the INDYCAR Series for the first time,” Croxville said. “The sound and the speed and being that close to the action really blows people’s minds.”

Margo Cooke is NTT DATA’s vice president of brand services, event marketing and sponsorships. With more than 20 years of experience in business and IT services marketing and communications, Cooke is very active with NTT’s sponsorship with the series.

According to Cooke, NTT’s innovation team has worked on a digital transformation project for INDYCAR as the series looks at its next five years and the role technology will play in that. NTT also delivers its message back to the fans.

“From NTT’s perspective, a lot of what we do centers on fan engagement," Cooke said. "NTT as the title sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR Series has done a lot around fan engagement."

Croxville said the company is excited for the upcoming season.

“We can’t wait for 2020 to start and to see where Felix and the INDYCAR SERIES goes next,” he said. “We are very excited and very proud to be associated with the series, and we think there are a lot of things we can do as we move forward that can benefit everyone."