Hamilton calls second title victory "the greatest day of my life" - MotorSportsTalk

ABU DHABI – Basking in the glory of his second world championship victory in Abu Dhabi today, Lewis Hamilton has said that his win with Mercedes in 2014 means more than his first did in 2008 with McLaren, calling it “the greatest day of my life”

The British driver won his second title in the best possible fashion, claiming his 11th win of the season in Abu Dhabi as championship rival and teammate Nico Rosberg suffered a partial engine failure, leaving him 13th in the final classification.

Hamilton was presented with a British flag on his warm down lap, proudly waving it aloft in celebration of his second world title, and even received a radio message from Prince Harry on the Mercedes pit wall.

Speaking on the podium after the race, Hamilton was lost for words at times, but said that this title meant more than his first did in 2008.

“I’m at a loss for words really,” he said. “Big huge thank you to all the fans. All the flags, all the caps, everything. It made such a difference this weekend. I can’t explain how much this means. It means more than the first one.

“Nico put on an incredible fight throughout the year, incredible competitor. We met each other back in 1997 and said it would be amazing to be in the same team racing for the championship. I’m sad to know the car wasn’t quick enough to fight it out, but grateful he came up to me post-race.”

Hamilton made no secret of his emotions on the podium, calling it “the greatest day of my life”.

“It’s the greatest day of my life,” he said. “It’s due to all the people around me. 2008 was a special time in my life, but the feeling I have now is way, way past that. It’s the greatest feeling ever. Thank you so much everyone.”

Hamilton admitted after the race that he did not sleep much last night, but was thankful to his family for arriving ahead of the race in a surprise ahead of his showdown with Rosberg.

With two world titles, Hamilton has now joined the illustrious list of F1 legends that have multiple championships, and will be gunning for a third to establish himself as the greatest British driver of all time in 2015.

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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.