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Technology Advancements In IndyCar Have Revolutionized Race Day
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Ryan Hunter-Reay’s 0.06-second margin of victory in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 underscored something all racing fans should know by now—every second (or even tenths of a second) counts in IndyCar.
All it takes is one miscommunication or miscalculation to ruin a driver’s chances come race day. And drivers rely heavily on in-car technology and radio communication to give themselves the best chance at taking the checkered flag.
Correspondence between driver, spotter and crew members is essential, made possible by the steering wheel’s radio button and an in-helmet ear piece. Tony Kanaan may not have been able to win the 2013 Indy 500 without it.
“The radio system is essential for racing, especially at oval races where you need your spotter at all times telling you what’s happening on the track,” Kanaan said.
The ear piece also protects racers from engine noise and is one of the most critical pieces of equipment in the car for Kanaan.
“I normally listen to the radio a lot more than I talk,” Kanaan said.
While certain innovations help drivers perform, others help protect them. The SAFER barriers, installed on all four turns at each of the IndyCar Series oval tracks, lessen the impact on cars and promote driver well-being.
“IndyCar revolutionized safety when they came up with the soft wall,” Kanaan said.
IndyCar has also revolutionized the fan experience in recent years, with in-car cameras accessible via Verizon’s INDYCAR 15 mobile app. The cameras provide 360-degree views, allowing fans to see exactly what lies ahead on the track with their favorite drivers—or who’s behind them.
That type of access wasn’t available when Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500 in 1986. But fans can now place themselves inside the car with his son, Graham Rahal, who has one of the most popular in-car camera feeds on the circuit.
“Technology is just advancing so far over the last two years,” Rahal said. “The biggest thing is for the fans. I think about what fans have access to now and (even) I use the Verizon app. … When I’m here in the bus waiting for practice, I’ve got the app open and you can see everything. It’s incredibly impressive. That sort of thing has advanced quite far.”
That ear piece Kanaan relies so heavily on? Fans can hear exactly what he’s hearing during driver-pit crew talks with the Verizon app as well.
New technology in racing has helped provide a fun spectator experience, but Rahal said it now plays a key role in his preparation.
“As a series, it’s pretty lucky to have Verizon on board with everything they do for us,” Rahal said. “We’re taking sports to a new level with the access. I look at what I keep track of on the app, how I can watch steering, how I can watch throttle percentage. It’s absolutely incredible to see.”
All it takes is one miscommunication or miscalculation to ruin a driver’s chances come race day. And drivers rely heavily on in-car technology and radio communication to give themselves the best chance at taking the checkered flag.
Correspondence between driver, spotter and crew members is essential, made possible by the steering wheel’s radio button and an in-helmet ear piece. Tony Kanaan may not have been able to win the 2013 Indy 500 without it.
“The radio system is essential for racing, especially at oval races where you need your spotter at all times telling you what’s happening on the track,” Kanaan said.
The ear piece also protects racers from engine noise and is one of the most critical pieces of equipment in the car for Kanaan.
“I normally listen to the radio a lot more than I talk,” Kanaan said.
While certain innovations help drivers perform, others help protect them. The SAFER barriers, installed on all four turns at each of the IndyCar Series oval tracks, lessen the impact on cars and promote driver well-being.
“IndyCar revolutionized safety when they came up with the soft wall,” Kanaan said.
IndyCar has also revolutionized the fan experience in recent years, with in-car cameras accessible via Verizon’s INDYCAR 15 mobile app. The cameras provide 360-degree views, allowing fans to see exactly what lies ahead on the track with their favorite drivers—or who’s behind them.
That type of access wasn’t available when Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500 in 1986. But fans can now place themselves inside the car with his son, Graham Rahal, who has one of the most popular in-car camera feeds on the circuit.
“Technology is just advancing so far over the last two years,” Rahal said. “The biggest thing is for the fans. I think about what fans have access to now and (even) I use the Verizon app. … When I’m here in the bus waiting for practice, I’ve got the app open and you can see everything. It’s incredibly impressive. That sort of thing has advanced quite far.”
That ear piece Kanaan relies so heavily on? Fans can hear exactly what he’s hearing during driver-pit crew talks with the Verizon app as well.
New technology in racing has helped provide a fun spectator experience, but Rahal said it now plays a key role in his preparation.
“As a series, it’s pretty lucky to have Verizon on board with everything they do for us,” Rahal said. “We’re taking sports to a new level with the access. I look at what I keep track of on the app, how I can watch steering, how I can watch throttle percentage. It’s absolutely incredible to see.”
