Inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana kicks off NBCSN's IndyCar coverage for 2015 (VIDEO) - MotorSportsTalk

The Verizon IndyCar Series returns to NBCSN this week with the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Here’s the breakdown of coverage and times for IndyCar:

INDYCAR GRAND PRIX OF LOUISIANA – SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBCSN begins its coverage of the 2015 IndyCar season this Sunday in New Orleans at the debut of the Grand Prix of Louisiana. Two weekends ago at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Juan Pablo Montoya (Penske) held off reigning IndyCar champion and Penske teammate Will Power to win the first race of the 2015 campaign. NBCSN’s coverage begins Saturday at 5 p.m. ET with live coverage of qualifying, prior to Sunday’s race coverage at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Brian Till will provide play-by-play commentary from NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, La. Former IndyCar, Cart and Champ Car driver Paul Tracy returns for his second season as race analyst. IndyCar driver Townsend Bell, who has raced eight times at the Indianapolis 500 and won the GT Daytona class at last year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona, is back for his third season in the booth. Robin Miller, Marty Snider, Kevin Lee and Kelli Stavast will handle pit reporting duties.

In addition, NBCSN will air the first of five episodes this season of INDYCAR Chronicles on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET, featuring Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver James Hinchcliffe. The episode follows the Toronto native as he goes karting with some Schmidt Peterson Motorsports crew members, and goes in-depth with Hinchcliffe during the season-opening Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Click here for a preview of this week’s episode.

NBC SPORTS LAUNCHES INDYCAR-FOCUSED TWITTER ACCOUNT @INDYCARONNBCSN

In preparation for the start of the 2015 IndyCar season, NBC Sports has launched an IndyCar-focused twitter account, @IndyCaronNBCSN. The account provides up-to-the-minute IndyCar news and highlights, including video and articles from MotorSportsTalk on NBCSports.com.

TV TIMES: INDYCAR, FORMULA 1, MECUM AUCTIONS

Date	Program	Time (ET)	Network
Thur., April 9	Mecum Auctions: Houston	4:30 p.m.	NBCSN
	F1 Chinese Grand Prix – Practice 1	10 p.m.	NBC Sports Live Extra
	NASCAR K&N Series: Greenville Pickens	11 p.m.	NBCSN
Fri., April 10	Mecum Auctions: Houston	12 a.m.	NBCSN
	F1 Chinese Grand Prix – Practice 2	2 a.m.	NBCSN
	Mecum Auctions: Houston	1 p.m.	NBCSN
	INDYCAR Chronicles: James Hinchcliffe	5:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Sat., April 11	F1 Chinese Grand Prix – Practice 3	12 a.m.	NBC Sports Live Extra
	F1 Chinese Grand Prix – Qualifying	3 a.m.	NBCSN
	Mecum Auctions: Houston	2 p.m.	NBCSN
	IndyCar Grand Prix of Louisiana – Qualifying	5 p.m.	NBCSN
Sun., April 12	F1 Chinese Grand Prix	1:30 a.m.	NBCSN
	F1 Extra	4 a.m.	NBCSN
	IndyCar Grand Prix of Louisiana	2:30 p.m.	NBCSN
	Mecum Auctions: Houston	7 p.m.	NBCSN

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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.