Kevin Harvick leads halfway in Coca-Cola 600 - MotorSportsTalk

At the halfway point of the 400-lap Coca-Cola 600, Kevin Harvick leads after 200 laps at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Harvick also was in the lead after the first 100 laps. There are 200 more laps remaining in NASCAR’s longest and most grueling race of the Sprint Cup season.

Brad Keselowski is second, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Brian Vickers.

Running sixth through 10^th were Brian Vickers, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano.

Only three drivers have led laps in the event: Johnson led the most laps (91) at the halfway mark, followed by Harvick (79) and Keselowski (30).

Despite fighting back spasms, Gordon remains behind the wheel.

Kurt Busch, who is attempting to become the first driver to race 1,100 miles in the same day between the Indianapolis 500 (finished sixth) and the 600, was running 13^th with 200 more laps to go.

Busch was forced to start from the 42nd position because he was unable to arrive at CMS in time for the mandatory driver’s and crew chiefs meeting.

Busch’s younger brother, Kyle, was forced to start from the back of the 43-car field due to driving a back-up car, having crashed his primary ride during Saturday’s second of two practice sessions.

Kyle Busch had climbed up to 17th by Lap 200.

The first 108 laps were run caution-free until debris on the racetrack brought out the yellow flag to slow the field.

Danica Patrick ran very strong in the first 100 laps, climbing as high as second place before falling back to 24^th at the midpoint.

There have been just three cautions for 15 laps at the halfway point of the race. The only wreck was David Gilliland, who was sent into the wall when a tire gave way on Lap 161.

“We blew a right-front tire there,” Gilliland said. “We did the wave-around trying to make up some track position, but just blew a right-front. It got real tight the lap before and just blew a right-front.

“It’s a tough way for this to end. We were looking forward to finishing it off, but we’re not gonna do it tonight.”

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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.