![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
Indy 500: NBC Sports Introduces Virtual Car, Pit-Box SpyCams to Memorial Day Tradition The usual two SpyCams will be bumped up to six for Sunday's race By Kristian Hern ndez, Senior Editor
Friday, May 24, 2024 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The Indianapolis 500 is an experience best observed in person, but, for fans who can't make it to The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, NBC Sports is deploying tech toys and storylines befitting an event of this magnitude. The customary in-car cameras will once again be situated in the cockpit, but the broadcaster is adding virtual-car graphics to the broadcast and boosting the number of SpyCam POV cameras in pit lane.
We enjoy when there are new elements to deal with, says Rene Hatlelid, producer, NBC Sports. We're extremely excited about adding more technology to this race.
New Workflows: SpyCams, Virtual Car Bring Viewers Closer to the Action NBC Sports is always looking to bring new and interesting angles to a marquee race that it has broadcast since 2019. Fans have become familiar with a handful of production techniques seen on numerous motorsports disciplines: in-car POVs, POVs along the track, super-slow-motion cameras to highlight the tight corners drivers navigate, jib cameras extending over the pit wall.
The INDYCAR version of Virtual Car that was shown during Friday's practice.
To vary the looks and keep the viewer coming back for more, the broadcaster is leaning into its use of SpyCam: an additional POV camera positioned in the pit box to showcase the real-time discussions and emotions of a driver's support staff. Typically, these cameras highlight a team's top engineer or spotter, and, in previous races in 2024, NBC Sports has opted for only two of the devices. For this weekend, the crew plans to install a total of six at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
We have these SpyCams every week, notes Hatlelid, but we're looking to up the ante a bit on Sunday. [The cameras] will add to our normal portfolio of onboard cameras and other equipment around the course.
This graphic explains the role of a weightjacker that's inside the car.
In the truck, the team is looking to integrate a new virtual-car graphic into the broadcast. Similar to the virtual car that's been shown on NBC Sports' coverage of NASCAR, the network recruited the skills of UK-based Chris Beatty Design to recreate a three-dimensional and authentic replica of a single-seat, open-cockpit IndyCar. Geared towards being an educational tool to identify certain parts of a car that casual fans might not know or give context to intricate pieces that they'll discuss throughout the day, the front bench needs to find the right time to show this explainer video without missing the action on the track.
Two of the biggest things the driver can control are the weightjacker and the anti-roll bar, so the goal is to educate the viewer when we show these [videos] during pre-race and potentially during in-race, says Mac Swenson, associate producer, NBC Sports. When [analysts] Townsend [Bell] and [James] Hinch[cliffe] talk about these two items, this will help the viewer understand what's really going on when the driver utilizes those parts.
Cars will be outfitted with a reverse shot of the driver in the cockpit.
Dual Storylines: Kyle Larson Seeking the Double, Jimmie Johnson in Peacock Pit Box Every driver is looking to leave their mark on the historic race, but two in particular will be capturing the attention of viewers. Both Kyle Larson and Jimmie Johnson are looking to pull off a unique Double, or the chance to participate in two races on the same day. This Sunday, the Indy 500 will be in the daytime, and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, NC, will take place at night. Looking to become the second driver in history to start and complete both races -Tony Stewart accomplished the feat in 1999 and 2001 - Larson will have completed 1,100 miles of racing.
The Peacock Pit Box will once again take its position behind pit lane on Sunday.
Practice and qualifying showed that doing this isn't just a flash in the pan, says Hatlelid. We've known this for years, but he's one of the world's greatest drivers. I'll be on the edge of my seat to see what he's going to do in the 500, and I wouldn't say it's out of the realm of possibility for him to win this race.
Johnson will be in the booth at IMS and, like Larson, in a car at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will be joining NBC Sports for four races on the INDYCAR calendar, beginning in Indianapolis and including responsibilities during the pre-race show with Mike Tirico and Danica Patrick and during the race in the Peacock Pit Box. Johnson will contribute to the call done by play-by-play announcer Leigh Diffey, Bell, and Hinchcliffe. Reporters scheduled to make an appearance include Marty Snider, Kevin Lee, Dave Burns, and Dillon Welch in pit lane and Jeff Burton and Kim Coon roaming the infield.
Jimmie will be able to detail what Kyle's going through, the differences between their cars, and what he'll be feeling in the moment, says Hatlelid. I think it's priceless that Jimmie can also speak about his experience with racing in the Indy 500 [in 2022].
Back Home in Indiana: NBC Sports Looks Forward to Another Holiday at IMS In what has become an annual tradition at NBC Sports, the crew relishes the time they get to spend in Indianapolis on Memorial Day weekend. At IMS, fans of all ages make new memories that are attached to the sport forever, and so it is for the production crew, who consider it a privilege to serve as a conduit between the viewing public and the iconic racing venue.
BSI's mobile unit and the other trucks at the IMS broadcast compound.
It's a
More from Sports Video Group
14/06/2024
Euro 2024: UEFA's technical broadcast operation By George Bevir
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - 09:45
Print This Story
Leipziger Messe: Hall 4 of the venue w...
14/06/2024
Euro 2024: UEFA's live production plans By George Bevir
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - 09:45
Print This Story
Euro 2024 kicks off on Friday evening (14 June...
14/06/2024
Euro 2024: UEFA's ENG crews at the ready By George Bevir
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - 09:44
Print This Story
With UEFA set to deliver over 3,500 hours of ...
14/06/2024
FOX Sports' Wave of UFL Tech Innovation Crescendos With Championship Game Th...
14/06/2024
Breaking the Ice: Inside the NHL's Adventures in Live Cloud Production NHL's Grant Nodine and AWS's Andrew Reich offer a behind-the-scenes look By ...
14/06/2024
USGA Taps SMT for U.S. Open On-Course, Video-Production Services for 17th Year The sports-media-tech provider is distributing content to 30 displays and 650 TVs...
14/06/2024
FOX Sports Takes Virtual Production to New Heights With Groundbreaking Basilica...
13/06/2024
Paris 2024: France T l visions head of production in charge of Olympic and Paral...
13/06/2024
Zixi Gets Strategic Investment From Clearhaven Partners The software supplier aims to be tech partner of choice for IP-based media transport globally By Ken K...
13/06/2024
How Slow TV' watching moose migrate is accelerating live cloud workflows at...
13/06/2024
Canon's Jamon Lomax on Scaling Up Solutions for Live College Sports Broadcas...
13/06/2024
NBC Sports Rolls Out 70 Cameras for U.S. Open Coverage; Producer Tommy Roy Says ...
13/06/2024
AI, Machine Learning, & Automation: Feeding the Content Beast on Mobile and Soci...
12/06/2024
SVG Sports Cloud Production Forum: Sessions Now Available To Watch on SVG PLAY Catch up on the latest in live cloud-based production strategies and technology ...
12/06/2024
InfoComm 2024, Part 1: Live-Sound Show Returns in Full Force The event has evolved into the single-biggest installed-AV expo in the U.S. By Dan Daley, Audio Ed...
12/06/2024
InfoComm 2024, Part 2: Gear for Big Sound in Stadium and Arena Immersive live sound is part of sports entities' engagement strategies By Dan Daley, Audio E...
11/06/2024
FloSports Set To Launch New FloCollege' NCAA Platform Focused on DII, DIII ...
11/06/2024
2024 NBA Finals Live Streaming to Select IMAX Locations in Hong Kong, Taiwan via...
11/06/2024
Men's T20 Cricket World Cup: PMY Group, Populous Get Nassau County Internati...
11/06/2024
Stanley Cup Final 2024: ESPN Aims for Access in Cross-Continental Hockey Celebra...
11/06/2024
Stanley Cup Final 2024: ESPN Outfits Florida Panthers Goalie With MindFly AI Bod...
11/06/2024
Packing the Friendly Confines: Scripps Sports, NWSL Team Up for Historic Broadca...
10/06/2024
Matrox Video's Jim McLean on the Advantages the Monarch EDGE Series Gives in...
10/06/2024
Paris 2024: Editorial approaches with Olympic TV channels and studios galore for...
10/06/2024
Paris 2024: France T l visions on making the most of being the home turf rights ...
10/06/2024
Finding Authentic Voices on the Digital Frontlines: How HBS Seeks Out Influencer...
10/06/2024
Fox Sports' Jam-Packed Super Saturday Headlined by Unique Belmont Stakes Pro...
07/06/2024
EHF Final4: First-of-its-kind multi-platform experience to be a celebration of h...
07/06/2024
Broadcast Innovation in India: How Disney Hotstar Broke Records at ICC Men's...
07/06/2024
Ross Video's Stefan Tribble on Supplying Easy-To-Use Tools for the Everchang...
07/06/2024
ESPN Deploys Pair of MindFly BodyCams on Referees for UFL Semifinal Matchup on A...
07/06/2024
Fox Sports Ops Team Set for Stacked Saturday With MLB London, Belmont Stakes, an...
07/06/2024
Stanley Cup Final Preview: ESPN Secures SkyCam on All Games as Ops Navigates Mas...
06/06/2024
NBA Finals 2024: ESPN Rolls Out Skycam, Shallow Depth of Field, Live Drone in Bo...
06/06/2024
Broadcast Innovation in India: How Big Time Event Production Is Serving a Global...
06/06/2024
London Games Give MLB Network a Chance to Expand Game, Work Closely with BBC By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Thursday, June 6, 2024 - 9:00 am
Print...
06/06/2024
Paris 2024: France T l visions creates a unique transmission solution to bring t...
06/06/2024
Making waves: How SailGP is working to bring its graphics production technology ...
06/06/2024
Riedel's Greg Macchia, Notre Dame Studios' Scott Rinehart on Elevating P...
06/06/2024
NBA Finals 2024: NBA TV to Offer Cavalcade of Nightly Studio Programming By SVG Staff
Thursday, June 6, 2024 - 1:21 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Stor...
06/06/2024
Women's College World Series 2024: ESPN's Production a Specialty-Camera ...
06/06/2024
NBA Finals 2024: ESPN Plans Some New Sound Moves With More IP, New Mics Game Creek Varsity and Spirit mobile units are on hand in Boston; NEP EN1 will be in Dal...
06/06/2024
NBA Finals 2024: ESPN Rolls Out Skycam, Shallow Depth of Field, and Live Drone i...
05/06/2024
Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 2 - Diversity Marks Solutions for Remote Produc...
05/06/2024
Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 1 - The Cloud Brings Changes to the Linchpin of...
05/06/2024
Collegiate Sports Organizations Tiptoe Into Wiring Athletes for Sound Manufacturers say affordable, accessible technology can expand deployment By Dan Daley, ...
04/06/2024
Super Sunday: Sky Sports' head of football team operations Laurence Cawsey o...
04/06/2024
DMC switches RallyX to remote production based on GV AMPP By Adrian Pennington
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 11:52
Print This Story
The tenth anniversary of t...
04/06/2024
Giro d'Italia 2024: Behind the scenes of EMG Italy's TV production By Roberto Landini, Italian Correspondent
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - 08:40
Print Th...
04/06/2024
Sports My Way: How Data, Interactivity, and Personalization are Changing Live St...