Reigning Indianapolis 500 Polesitter to Run Fourth Car with NTT DATA Partnership 

Four-time and reigning Indianapolis 500 Winners Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) announced today an agreement with former Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Ryan Briscoe (pictured) to pilot a fourth Honda entry with sponsorship from NTT DATA, a leading global IT services provider, for the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on May 26 (11AM, ABC, Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific).

“To say that I’m excited for the month of May would be a huge understatement.  I’m thrilled to join the Ganassi team for the Indianapolis 500 this year.  Driving for the defending race winner – and especially with teammates that are former winners – is just incredible.  There are still a lot of familiar faces on the team from when I drove for Chip in 2005, and I can’t wait to get started.  I’m looking forward to a successful month,” Briscoe said.

“We all know Ryan is a talented driver, having had him in our Indy car system previously.  He will get up to speed quickly because he understands the ins and outs of how we operate our race program.  The opportunity to have him back in a fourth car with us alongside Dario, Scott and Charlie is big.  We are excited to bring NTT DATA into our team as well.  Their strong reputation coupled with their focus on IT innovation make them an ideal partner for our race program,” said Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Ganassi Racing Team.  Their winning tradition and high standards of performance are a great complement to our clients and our employees.  Ryan Briscoe is an exceptional talent and we cannot be happier to have him behind the wheel of the No. 8 NTT DATA Honda,” said John McCain, President and CEO, NTT DATA, Inc. 

Briscoe will return to CGRT in the No. 8 NTT DATA Honda alongside three-time and reigning Indianapolis 500 Winner Dario Franchitti (No. 10 Target Honda), 2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Honda) and Charlie Kimball (No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen Honda) who is coming off a solid weekend in Round 2 of the IZOD IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park.  

With the addition of Briscoe to the lineup, CGRT will be fielding entries for both the defending Indianapolis 500 polesitter and racewinner when the track opens Saturday, May 11.

Photo by IMS Photo