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IndyCar Ramps Up Race Control Technology
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IndyCar is planning extensive technological improvements aimed at increasing the effectiveness of its race control.
Additional cameras, monitors, upgraded replay equipment and the ability to review car data are all scheduled to be introduced during the upcoming season, with a fully-contained mobile race control unit planned for 2015.
IndyCar's president of competition and operations Derrick Walker said that when he was appointed to the role mid-way through last year, he quickly identified the race control facilities as a priority for an overhaul.
"There were a couple of things that seemed pretty obvious," he said. "We couldn't always see what we needed to do for race control to be effective. "It looked pretty obvious we needed to upgrade our equipment and needed to have more eyes on the job.
"So for this year we've invested a tremendous amount in equipment so we have a lot more views and better-quality views, better replay, trying to capture all the views that are possible.
"A lot of times race control, and I see it in other series, make decisions based on a few views, but don't have them all. Sometimes the fan gets better views than we do in race control," he added. "There were limitations on how many screens we've got, how many inputs we actually tap into."
Walker said that the planned mobile unit, which will travel to all North American races, will be designed to address the logistical obstacles present in the current system.
"We have a lot of equipment," he said. "The space you have isn't always enough. We're going to put it in a trailer, give it enough room and stability, and have it at all of the races.
"That's a big undertaking and huge investment on the part of IndyCar."
Additional cameras, monitors, upgraded replay equipment and the ability to review car data are all scheduled to be introduced during the upcoming season, with a fully-contained mobile race control unit planned for 2015.
IndyCar's president of competition and operations Derrick Walker said that when he was appointed to the role mid-way through last year, he quickly identified the race control facilities as a priority for an overhaul.
"There were a couple of things that seemed pretty obvious," he said. "We couldn't always see what we needed to do for race control to be effective. "It looked pretty obvious we needed to upgrade our equipment and needed to have more eyes on the job.
"So for this year we've invested a tremendous amount in equipment so we have a lot more views and better-quality views, better replay, trying to capture all the views that are possible.
"A lot of times race control, and I see it in other series, make decisions based on a few views, but don't have them all. Sometimes the fan gets better views than we do in race control," he added. "There were limitations on how many screens we've got, how many inputs we actually tap into."
Walker said that the planned mobile unit, which will travel to all North American races, will be designed to address the logistical obstacles present in the current system.
"We have a lot of equipment," he said. "The space you have isn't always enough. We're going to put it in a trailer, give it enough room and stability, and have it at all of the races.
"That's a big undertaking and huge investment on the part of IndyCar."
