Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Indy 500: NBC Sports Introduces Virtual Car, Pit-Box SpyCams to Memorial Day Tradition

24/05/2024

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
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/05/24/indy-500-nbc-sports-introduces-...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

07/10/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Media Operations from Ingest to Distribution

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...

06/09/2026

Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Germany with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...

21/08/2026

FOX Sports Rolls Out Its Most Ambitious Live Motorsports Production' Ever at IndyCar Freedom 250 GP in DC

A massive deployment of specialty cameras, graphics, and AR will showcase the na...

21/08/2026

Creative Studio Zookeeper Embraces Pinball Motif for West Coast Conference PSA

The West Coast Conference unveiled its new 30-second public service announcement, the latest expression of the Conference's We Rise in the West brand iden...

21/08/2026

ESPN Soft-Launches a New NFL Graphics Package, Scorebug During Thursday Night's Raiders-Texans Preseason Game

New look will serve as the foundation for ESPN's upcoming NFL season and Sup...

21/08/2026

ESPN to Debut Little League Alumni Alt-Cast for 2026 MLB Little League Classic

ESPN will air the ninth annual MLB Little League Classic presented by New York Life on Sunday, August 23, at 7 p.m. ET from Historic Bowman Field in Williamspor...

21/08/2026

His Story Becomes Part of Football History': Dean Grossman Honors His Father Sandy With Pete Rozelle Award Speech

In an emotional acceptance speech in Canton, Grossman celebrated the pioneering ...

21/08/2026

Rapid Flow release miniGRID

Hardware-style timing shifts for software instruments Following on from the release of Omniclock, Rapid Flow have launched a new sequencer plug-in that can ...

21/08/2026

Love Synthesizers announce First Love pre-orders

Highly anticipated synthesizer ships in October 2026 Iceland-based Love Synthesizers have announced that their highly anticipated synthesizer is now availab...

21/08/2026

The Forsytes' Adds Gregg Sulkin & Gabriel Antunes As PBS Masterpiece Series Starts Filming Season 3

Masterpiece PBS The Forsytes has expanded its cast as its begins production in ...

21/08/2026

BBC reveals haunting first look and further casting for The Witch Farm

The BBC has unveiled first-look pictures from The Witch Farm, a new ghost story and mystery set in the Welsh countryside, coming soon to BBC iPlayer and BBC One...

21/08/2026

A first look at Edward Bluemel as Hercule Poirot.

The BBC and BritBox have revealed the first look of Edward Bluemel as Hercule Poirot in the forthcoming six-part series Hercule from Mammoth Screen and Agatha C...

21/08/2026

Inside Euphoria's Editorial Heart: Aaron I. Butler, ACE on craft, collaboration and controlled madness

Our priority was making the best, most powerful, most meaningful story possible,...

21/08/2026

Clear-Com Appoints Venuetech as its Main Partner for the Middle East

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......

21/08/2026

Techex Names Stuart Almond as Chief Revenue Officer

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Avid Brings Agentic Media Production to IBC2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Avid brings agentic media production to IBC2026

Avid will unveil how it is transforming production to help media organizations unite content, agentic workflows, and business insights at IBC2026 (RAI Amsterda...

21/08/2026

Grass Valley Connects SDI IP and Software as One Unified...

New routing, modular processing, orchestration and monitoring capabilities bridge dedicated hardware and software-based processing as part of the Dynamic Media ...

21/08/2026

Indiana Pacers Selects DAZN As Exclusive Streaming Partner

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Chyron To Showcase Newsroom Advancements At IBC 2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Broadpeak to Launch Multiview as a Service at IBC2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

University of Maryland Deploys Sony FX30 Cameras

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Study: FAST Sports Programming Surges

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Spectrum SportsNet LA Launches in Former Cox Markets

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

ESPN Airs Its Most-Watched WNBA Game

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

21/08/2026

Wisycom Wireless and DPA Microphones Support Pope Leo XIV...

When hundreds of thousands of people gather to hear a single voice, there is no room for compromise. Every word must be delivered clearly, every wireless transm...

21/08/2026

Telestream and ScorePlay Turn Live Sports into Immediate...

Telestream, a global leader in media workflow technologies, today announced a strategic partnership with ScorePlay, the AI-powered media infrastructure that spo...

21/08/2026

NUGEN Audio Launches New Post and Producer Subscription P...

NUGEN Audio announces the launch of its new Post Plan and Producer Plan, two flexible subscription offerings designed to give audio professionals short term acc...

21/08/2026

Join the Screen Currency 2026 Ask Me Anything (AMA) Online

Join the Screen Currency 2026 Ask Me Anything (AMA) Online 20 August 2026 (L-R): Adrian Coates, Grainne Brunsdon, Deirdre Brennan, Rachael Perkins Got questio...

21/08/2026

** MEDIA ALERT ** VIZ Media Takes Over Anime NYC with BLEACH, BLACK TORCH, MAO and More

** MEDIA ALERT ** VIZ Media Takes Over Anime NYC with BLEACH, BLACK TORCH, M...

21/08/2026

Take five with Sophie

Tell us a little bit about your job I'm a Marketing Manager and work across a mix of clients and projects. No two days are ever quite the same, which defini...

21/08/2026

Irish Lottery heist documentary to air on RT

Beat The Lotto dives into the plot behind the 1980s National Lottery scandal 24 August 2026 at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player Beat The Lotto is the story o...

21/08/2026

The Late Late Toy Show kicks off search for this year's stars

The countdown to the most wonderful night of the year has officially begun! Host Patrick Kielty is gearing up for another unforgettable Late Late Toy Show nig...

21/08/2026

New children's series Bellie and Whizz at Big School set to air on RT KIDSjr & RT Player from Monday, 24th August

Meet puppet duo Bellie and Whizz, who are about to explore all the big feelings ...

20/08/2026

NEP's Summer of Soccer Didn't End at World Cup: 1,100+ Domestic Productions Follow the Final

From host-broadcaster and rightsholder support in June and July to MLS, NWSL, US...

20/08/2026

SVG GameDay, Ep. 27: San Jose Sharks' Emily Garner - Production Tales From the Shark Tank

In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...

20/08/2026

IBC 2026: Veritone To Showcase Enterprise AI and Media Supply Chain Automation

At IBC this year, Veritone (14.A56) is bringing two connected themes to the booth: architectural independence in enterprise AI, and the automation of the media ...

20/08/2026

Telestream and ScorePlay Partner to Connect Live Sports Ingest with Media Management

Telestream and ScorePlay have announced a partnership combining Telestream's...

20/08/2026

Grand Slam of Curling and Rock League Sign Multi-Year Deal with ESPN

The Grand Slam of Curling and Rock League have announced a three-year agreement with ESPN, bringing more than 300 hours of live curling coverage to U.S. audienc...

20/08/2026

Nielsen Announces Measurement Enhancements Ahead of Fall TV Season

Nielsen has announced a series of enhancements to its Big Data + Panel currency measurement methodology, taking effect August 31. The updates were developed in ...

20/08/2026

ORF Deploys Net Insight Nimbra Platform for Nationwide IP Contribution Network

Net Insight has been selected by service provider Big Blue Marble (formerly ORS Group) to provide its Nimbra platform as the core media transport solution for a...

20/08/2026

2026 US Open Launches Fan Activations Across New York City

The 2026 US Open will bring a series of free fan activations across New York City ahead of and during the tournament, which runs August 23-September 13. We...

20/08/2026

Bridge Technologies Adds TS Playout to VB330 and VB220 Monitoring Probes

Bridge Technologies will announce a transport stream (TS) playout feature for its VB330 and VB220 compressed monitoring probes at IBC2026 (Booth 1.A71). The fe...

20/08/2026

IBC 2026: ENCO To Showcase AI and Automation Solutions

ENCO will demonstrate solutions across captioning, translation, AI production tools, automation, and virtual production at IBC2026 (Stand 7.A34, Amsterdam RAI, ...

20/08/2026

IBC 2026: MultiDyne MRMC To Exhibit for First Time as Part of MultiDyne Organization

MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will demonstrate camera robotics and mot...

20/08/2026

IBC 2026: Chyron Showcases Newsroom Workflow Solutions

Chyron will demonstrate news workflow solutions at IBC2026 (Stand 7.A23), marking the company's 60th anniversary. Highlights include updates to PRIME HTML, ...

20/08/2026

Spectrum SportsNet LA Now Available to Customers in Former Cox Markets

Spectrum SportsNet LA, the exclusive television home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is now available to Spectrum customers in former Cox markets following the clos...

20/08/2026

IBC 2026: swXtch.io Launches Expanded SRT Distribution and Native Multicast Services

swXtch.io will unveil expanded Global SRT Distribution and native multicast tran...

20/08/2026

Transformation Church Deploys Riedel Artist Intercom System

Riedel Communications has announced that Transformation Church in the United States has deployed a communications system built around the Artist intercom ecosys...