ABC will kick off the IndyCar Series season with a live telecast Sunday of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Fla., and ESPN’s production that include two innovations to enhance the viewing experience of fans.
The first exclusive usage of predictive analytics system built especially for IndyCar racing that will bring viewers closer to the strategy that often determines race winners.
Designed for ESPN by Pit Rho, a technology company focused on the development of custom, predictive analytics solutions, the system will supplement additional information related to racing strategies, such as tire compound choices, fuel windows and optimal laps for pitting as well as predictive analysis of positions, lap time falloff and probability of cautions.
“ESPN is always looking for new ways to serve the sports fan better, and this technology is the next step,” Kate Jackson, ESPN coordinating producer for motorsports, said in a statement. ”Racing can be like watching a chess match: you have to be able to see what is being set up, not just what is happening right now. This innovation will allow us to present strategy information in a way that IndyCar fans have never seen before.”
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Another new addition will be the “Visor Cam,” a tiny camera mounted to a driver’s helmet, which will provide a unique view that will be used during ABC’s course description segment.
Driver Josef Newgarden will be the first to test out the “Visor Cam” as he races in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
“Visor Cam will give viewers a very true portrayal of how it feels to be inside the car,” Jackson said. “Fans will be able to see how G forces move the driver’s head and body around and how bumps on the circuit affect the car.”