Indy 500 Returns: IMS Productions Ready for Unique Race Day The 104th running of the Indy 500 will be unlike anything before By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Friday, August 21, 2020 - 9:25 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
For the second year in a row IMS Productions is at the center of the Indy 500 which will be held this Sunday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Needless to say, it will have a very different feel from any of the races in the 104 years the race has been run, an event known as much for the spectacle and hundreds of thousands of fans as it is for the racing drama.
The broadcast compound at the Indy 500 will be spread out to allow for improved social distancing.
We have the greatest race in the world and there won't be any fans, says IMS Productions President Kevin Sublette. And I think that puts even more pressure on NBC and us to make sure we are performing well. There are normally 300,000 fans here but this year they will be watching from home and there won't be a local blackout so local fans will be able to watch.
IMS Productions is providing the production facilities for NBC Sports with HD-5 as the main truck and HD-3, HD-4, and several office trailers on site to provide ample room for the nearly 200-person production team to work safely on race day.
We also had to lay in 145,000 feet of Tac 12 fiber cable, says Sublette. This is a big show for us.
HD-5 is a 55-foot trailer with a Grass Valley Kayenne K-Frame HD switcher, a Calrec Apollo audio console, an Evertz EQX video router, and an RTS Adam intercom system. It also has Panasonic monitors on the front bench, Marshall monitors on the rear bench, and Samsung, Panasonic, and Sony monitors in the video area.
We have 65 Sony cameras to cover the race, six of which are Sony HDC-4300 for super slo-mo, says Sublette. There are also 14 on-board cameras from BSI, four RF handhelds from BSI, 10 robotic cameras that we own, and then eight POV robotics, three jib cameras, a Steadicam, and a Technocrane.
The race coverage has not been scaled back as the only change to the size of the production related to the pre-race show which was cut from three hours to 90 minutes. That, along with the lack of hundreds of thousands of fans descending on the track on race day, will allow for the production team to show up closer to 6 am, which is when the gates used to open, instead of 4 am.
We won't need police escorts this year, adds Sublette.
With close to 800 people (broadcast crew, teams, officials, venue personnel) expected to be at the track on race day there are plenty of safety protocols in place to prevent COVID-19 issues. The compound has been spread out as much as possible, there are additional restrooms and wash stations, and host positions for NBC's Mike Tirico and Danica Patrick will be outside.
We've really pushed operations hard to follow guidelines and we have more sanitizing bottles than we know what to do with, says Sublette.
The emphasis on social distancing had the biggest impact on the EVS replay team.
We have 120 channels of EVS, so we have to spread those guys out, explains Sublette. The one department is spread over four locations so that was additional workload for our engineers, and we had to make sure the infrastructure was in place to let them do the job.
When Roger Penske, owner of the Speedway as well as the IndyCar Series, purchased both earlier this year it fulfilled a life-long dream with the purchase, the team began a renovation process for the Speedway to make for a better fan experience.
IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske in front of the new video board that has been installed on the Pagoda at the track.
In a statement to race fans yesterday he laid out the vision When fans return in 2021, you will see many of the improvements we've made, including more than 30 new LED video boards, 5G connectivity and refreshed concession stands and restrooms. The winning driver and car are now lifted atop Victory Podium, allowing more fans to see the iconic post-race celebration. More improvements, all focused on our fans, are on the way.
Topping the list of things Indy 500 race fans will have to wait until next year to experience is the 104 20-foot Pagoda Plaza Media Board which has been installed on the iconic Pagoda (it can be divided into four sections) and is among 47 types of screens that are across the Speedway.
Ross Video gear and SMT is in the control room and can control all of them, says Sublette. We're very hopeful to have the fans back next year and they will a huge difference.
Sublette says Penske is really focused on the team performing at a high level on Sunday. There won't be fans but there will be many of the iconic traditions that make the Indy 500 so special. And when the PA system is fired up and the announcer's voice booms across the track it will provide a much-needed presence and sense of normalcy.
Last year was the first year we provided all of the facilities and we're proud that a small company can provide facilities for the largest race in the world, adds Sublette.
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
06/05/2024
L3Harris is well positioned to support the complex and multifaceted nature of special operations forces in all domains through our agile and responsive technolo...
06/05/2024
OAKVILLE, Ontario As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, Alert Ready, Canadas national public alerting system, will be distributing a test alert to Canadians i...
06/05/2024
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Horowitz Research has released a new study on the viewing and media habits of U.S. Hispanic/Latine audiences that shows a dramatic decline in...
06/05/2024
RE:Vision Effects Autograph 2024.4 released! 50% Off Through May 9th
Brie Clayton May 6, 2024
0 Comments
New game-changing motion graphics & VFX featu...
06/05/2024
NBC has renewed Night Court for a third season. The courtroom comedy was on the network from 1984 to 1992, and NBC rebooted it in early 2023....
06/05/2024
ABC has revealed its summer schedule. The Bachelorette gets going Monday, July 8, with Jenn Tran the star in season 21. Celebrity Family Feud starts up Tuesday,...
06/05/2024
It's almost go-time for the Holly Springs Salamanders! The season opener is ...
06/05/2024
Leadership in 12G-SDI for low impact migration to 4k production...
06/05/2024
Press release - 6 May 2024 07:31
STATEMENT CONCERNING EUTELSAT GROUP'S GROUND NETWORK Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Download as PDF
Paris, 06 May 2024 ...
06/05/2024
Tyngsboro, Mass. - May 6, 2024 - Join us at InfoComm 2024 to experience the latest advancements in live production technology. From June 12-14, 2024, at the Las...
06/05/2024
To champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities, Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, ava...
06/05/2024
Actress Matseliso Mohale has joined Muvhango'Talented actress Matseliso Mohale has joined SABC2's soapie Muvhango' as Vhangani's lover and a c...
06/05/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Leroy refuses to give up fighting to bury MthethoDon't miss Monday, 6 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Smoke...
06/05/2024
Intrinsic, a software and AI robotics company at Alphabet, has integrated NVIDIA AI and Isaac platform technologies to advance the complex field of autonomous r...
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity experts at the RSA Conference this week will be on the hunt for ways to secure their operations in the era of generative AI.
They'll find man...
06/05/2024
1) What is the rationale of the transaction? What is the benefit for SES shareholders?
This combination creates a stronger and more competitive multi-orbit ope...
05/05/2024
A special evening performance by multiplatinum singer Becky G will provide a memorable conclusion to TeievisaUnivision's Casa Cultura upfront event on May 1...
05/05/2024
Giant media buyer Publicis is telling network sales executives that it does not think Nielsen's new panel-plus-big-data currency is ready for this upfront....
05/05/2024
WASHINGTON Glenn Kirschner, legal analyst at NBC News, blasted the media for referring to the New York trial of former President Donald Trump as a hush-money ...
05/05/2024
Catchy Comedy's weekend marathon sees The Beverly Hillbillies on the weekend of May 4-5. The event kicks off Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. ET, and runs through...
05/05/2024
NBC Sports has the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4. The coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and the feature race at Churchill Downs in Louis...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
04/05/2024
New faces and new storylines': What to expect on Izingane ZeS'thembu...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
Indy 500 Returns: IMS Productions Ready for Unique Race Day The 104th running of the Indy 500 will be unlike anything before By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
