What to watch for: IndyCar Race 2 at Houston (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN and Live Extra) - MotorSportsTalk

HELIO CAN’T MISS HERE

Yesterday’s Race 1 had Helio Castroneves on the front row and championship leader/teammate Will Power starting all the way in 18th.

But Castroneves could only convert that great start into a ninth-place finish, which minimized his points gain on Power (who still finished 14th after going into the tires late).

Today, Castroneves is starting Race 2 from the pole while Power is once again starting in 18th. The Australian is clearly having a dire weekend in Houston, but Castroneves couldn’t take advantage of that in Race 1. In Race 2, he absolutely must.

CHANCES FOR REDEMPTION

Keep an eye on rookie Mikhail Aleshin and Graham Rahal, who were involved in two of Race 1’s more memorable incidents yesterday.

Aleshin, down a lap, had contact with potential contender Takuma Sato and the two went into the wall, while Rahal ran into the back of Tony Kanaan on what was to be the final restart of the race with one lap left (Rahal received a time penalty and Carlos Huertas took the win under yellow).

For Race 2, Aleshin starts 2nd and Rahal starts 4th – and after yesterday, they need some great results.

COYNE GOES FOR THE SWEEP

Huertas’ win yesterday came out of nowhere, but it’s not as if Dale Coyne Racing hasn’t sprung a street course surprise before (see Mike Conway’s Detroit Dual 1 win from 2013, which – like Huertas’ win – came in DCR’s second car).

Today, Huertas is starting 12th while veteran teammate Justin Wilson rolls off sixth. They’d both likely prefer to be higher up on the grid, but considering that Huertas earned the Race 1 victory from 19th starting position, another triumph for DCR today can certainly be had.

MORE RAIN?

Intermittent showers threw a wrinkle into yesterday’s Race 1 at NRG Park; some parts of the 1.7-mile course dried quickly afterwards, while other parts took longer.

As for today’s forecast, there is expected to be more sunshine – but there’s also a 30 percent chance of rain involved. Should another shower pop up at or near the track, the complexion of Race 2 could change instantly.

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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.