Chip Ganassi Racing teams sign Ryan Briscoe for 97th running of the Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS – 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 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).

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.

Ryan’s Return: Briscoe started his Indy car racing career with Target Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005 when the team was a three-car effort comprised of Dixon and Darren Manning.

He competed in 14 rounds in the No. 33 Target car, had a team-best finish of 10th at the Indianapolis 500 and won his first Indy car pole position at Sonoma Raceway before a season-ending accident at Chicagoland Speedway.

NTT DATA at the Brickyard: NTT DATA began its relationship with the Indianapolis 500 in 2010 with sponsorship of the “NTT DATA Buckle Award” – a custom-made belt buckle presented to the race winner which continues through this year’s race.

The integration of performance, precision, technology and collaborative team skills is a winning formula for success – one that is representative of NTT DATA’s brand – making this an ideal partnership for the global IT services innovator.

Chip at the Brickyard: Last season’s win in the Indianapolis 500 with Dario Franchitti marked Chip Ganassi’s fifth Indianapolis 500 victory as a team owner (1989-Fittippaldi, 2000-Montoya, 2008-Dixon and 2010-Franchitti).

He won his first Indianapolis 500 after joining Pat Patrick to field Emerson Fittipaldi in 1989. His past four victories have been with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. With his fifth win in the Indianapolis 500 as an owner, Ganassi tied Lou Moore for second all-time in Indianapolis 500 wins behind only Roger Penske.

Ganassi has also won NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 with Jamie McMurray in 2010, making him the only team owner to win both marquee races at IMS.

Briscoe at The Brickyard: The reigning Indianapolis 500 polesitter has seven career starts at IMS, including three from the front row (2008-third, 2009-second).

Briscoe’s best finish is fifth (twice), coming in the 2007 and 2012 races. He has led the Indianapolis 500 in three of his seven starts for a total of 31 laps and has previously run the numbers 33 (CGRT-2005), 12 (2007), 6 (2008-2011) and 2 (2012).

By the Numbers: In eight seasons of IZOD IndyCar Series racing, Briscoe has 102 starts, seven wins, 12 poles, 27 podiums and over 1,400 laps led with a best finish of third in the 2009 championship.

The History of car No. 8 at Indianapolis: Number of Indianapolis 500 wins by car No. 8 – three (1912-Joe Dawson, 1936-Louis Meyer and 1956-Pat Flaherty). Last win by car No. 8 – Pat Flaherty, 1956 (started on pole).

Number of poles by car No. 8 – five (1929-Cliff Woodbury, 1932-Lou Moore, 1956-Pat Flaherty, 1977-Tom Sneva and 2001-Scott Sharp). Last car No. 8 in Indianapolis 500 starting field – Rubens Barrichello (2012).

Did you Know?: Briscoe will reunite with former teammate Scott Dixon at CGRT this May. The two were teammates during the 2005 IZOD IndyCar Season, both driving for Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Ryan Briscoe, Driver, No. 8 NTT DATA Honda: “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.”

John McCain, President and CEO, NTT DATA, Inc.: “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.”

Chip Ganassi, Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc.: “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.”

Chip Ganassi Racing