Edwards may not win Chase, but can close 2013 strong - MotorSportsTalk

A Sprint Cup championship is probably too tall an order for Carl Edwards, who sits 76 points off the lead in the Chase with three races to go. But the Roush Fenway Racing driver can certainly establish himself as a contender for 2014 in the remaining events.

Edwards, who starts from the pole for tomorrow’s AAA Texas 500, has the most wins at Texas Motor Speedway among active Sprint Cup drivers with three (2005, sweep in 2008). Next up after Texas is Phoenix, where he snapped a 70-race winless streak back in March. Then comes the season-finale on Nov. 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Roush Fenway squads have triumphed seven times.

As Edwards himself stated after winning the pole on Friday, he couldn’t have picked a better set of tracks to finish the year on. And that makes him confident that he and his No. 99 crew can get a proper headstart on next season.

“There is nothing we are not bringing to the race track equipment-wise and effort-wise, and we are coming to win,” Edwards said. “For us, it is really about gearing up for next season…There are a lot of things changing but overall it would help to keep the guys motivated and everyone looking forward. Wins would be great.”

“I love racing here [at Texas] and we ran really well at Phoenix, and Homestead, for some reason, perfectly suits me and the way our cars work and the engine. We should be really good. At the very least, we will have a good time and have some fun which is something that is easy to forget. That is a big part of it.”

Edwards was hoping for bigger things from his 2013 Chase after winning the last “regular season” race at Richmond back in September. But after starting out with decent results in his first two post-season events, a 35th-place finish (broken wheel hub) in Chase Race No. 3 at Dover effectively ended his bid for a title.

However, Edwards noted that the Chase has still been productive for Roush Fenway as a whole, as the group has realized the need to step it up against its competition.

“We recognize that we need to be better,” he said. “I think Greg’s run at Martinsville last week was a turning point for us. The speed he had was huge.

“I believe this pole and hopefully a solid run by not just me but Ricky [Stenhouse] and Greg [Biffle] and the whole Ford RFR camp will hopefully give those guys a little bit of something to show for all their hard work because they have been really working hard in the shop. Yeah, we recognize this Chase hasn’t gone well and it spurned a lot of hard work.”

Follow @estradawriting

The IndyCar Series has re-signed NTT as its title sponsor in a multiyear agreement starting in 2024.

NTT, a global information technology and communications company based in Japan, became the series’ title sponsor before the 2019 season after starting as a sponsor of the No. 10 Dallara-Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

NTT Data (a subsidiary of parent company Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.) will remain the official technology partner of IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Brickyard weekend.

With the extension, an IndyCar spokesman said NTT would become the second-longest title sponsor in series history. The longest title sponsor was PPG from 1980-97 (under the CART sanction of the Champ Car Series).

NTT replaced Verizon, which was IndyCar’s title sponsor from 2014-18 after IZOD from 2010-13.

“NTT is an excellent partner across our enterprise with strong expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” Penske Corp. chairman and IndyCar owner Roger Penske said in a release. “From Smart Venue technology at the Racing Capital of the World to the reimagined Series mobile application, NTT is transforming the fan experience in new and innovative ways. We look forward to a bright future together.”

NTT has used artificial intelligence-enabled optical detection technology at IMS to provide information to the track’s operations and security teams, helping improve fan traffic flow and safety, the track said.

“IndyCar is a great partner for NTT Data because of our shared commitment to driving innovation, increasing sustainability and delivering amazing experiences,” NTT Data CEO Kaz Nishihata said in a release. “We also appreciate how IndyCar is so diverse, with drivers from 15 different countries, and races that range from short ovals and superspeedways to road and street courses. It’s both an incredible sport and a wonderful example for our world.”

NTT also has been instrumental in helping redesign the IndyCar app and providing more race and driver data for use in NBC Sports’ broadcasts by utilizing 140 data points from every car in the field.

“NTT is fully invested in the development and growth of our sport and has already established a terrific track record in our industry with problem-solving capabilities and access to top talent and tools,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said.

Said NTT Data Services CEO Bob Pryor: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaborations that enhance and expand the fan experience for motorsports and serve as proof points for data analytics, AI, and other innovative digital technologies. For more than a century, this racing series has pioneered innovations making driving safer for everyone, and by continuing this relationship, we will accelerate the pace of innovations and new technologies, particularly related to sustainability that ultimately can benefit organizations, communities and individuals around the world.”

Starting as a Japanese telephone company, NTT grew into a $100 billion-plus tech services giant with U.S. operations based in Plano, Texas.