INDIANAPOLIS – Speed, bravery, courage and innovation will be on full display in the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Aug. 23. NTT, the INDYCAR SERIES title sponsor, will showcase many of those elements – and more – during the race on the INDYCAR Mobile App during the Indy 500 telecast on NBC.
Many of the innovations by NTT at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been on full display during the Indy 500 practice and qualifications. An impressive new Media Wall on the IMS Pagoda debuted earlier this summer during the GMR Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on July 4. A special component, the IMS Data Experience powered by NTT, will be added to the spectacular high-definition video board on Indy 500 race day. The experience leverages real time, data driven insights gleamed from the telemetry from the cars on the track and brings it life in a dynamic 3D world.
The Media Wall was another one of the major improvements at IMS by new owner Roger Penske and his staff, who worked diligently with NTT officials to provide even an even greater experience to the large throng of fans that annually flock to the Speedway.
This year’s Indianapolis 500 was originally scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, with the race Sunday, May 24. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed and rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 23.
Media Wall content and new security systems would have all been in place if the race took place in May. COVID-19 allowed extra time for NTT and IMS to refine the Media Wall, creating the impressive new elements that are part of the fan experience at the Speedway.
“It added some energy and acceleration to the scope that we had to deliver,” said Marv Mouchawar, NTT Senior Vice President. “Given what everybody was going through in their personal lives, it was amazing what the teams across the organizations were able to do when they came together and put forth the data sets and information correctly. They accelerated to the fans in time for the Indy 500.
“It added some extra juice – push-to-pass as we call in in INDYCAR – to make sure it gets delivered.”
The start of the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season was delayed until June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. With fans unable to attend that race, and with limited attendance at other contests, they have turned to the NTT INDYCAR Mobile App to keep up with the action.
“We had a significant increase and spike in terms of downloads using the app,” Mouchawar said. “Hopefully, we see that same thing this weekend with people getting engaged in the Indy 500.”
Unfortunately, Sunday’s race will be contested without spectators, but the INDYCAR and NTT teams worked quickly to bring the experience to fans though the NTT INDYCAR Mobile App and NBC Sports Gold.
The IMS Data Experience powered by NTT features visualizations of 140 data points from every car, a leaderboard and live race broadcast video, real-time car positions in the race, driver profiles in the race and nearly 20 different action experiences in real time highlighted by artificial intelligence.
Those experiences include:
1 – Drivers making big moves during the race.
2 – Drivers catching the leader over three or more laps.
3 – The top five fastest lap times and positions gained.
4 – Risky maneuvers and highest corner G-force alerts.
5 – Positions battles, cars changing position over multiple laps.
The information brings even more high energy to the sport and the audience. These new innovations will be streamed on the NTT App and NBC Sports Gold.
Peter Gray is senior vice president, Advanced Technology Group, Sports for NTT. His group has played a key role in creating a bridge between technology and sports with some of the world’s most famous sporting events.
“NTT prides itself on helping people, clients, communities to create a better future,” Gray said. “Sports at its best has the ability to connect people. It’s a great platform for showcasing new technologies and innovation.
NTT also works with the Tour de France, which begins a week after the Indy 500. NTT has been the Tour’s technology partner since 2015. It has engaged younger audiences through creating new digital products, including implementing the world’s first tracking solution that tracks every single rider around the French countryside.
“Much of the technology you will see in INDYCAR has been used in the cycling world,” Gray said. “That has enabled new platforms and mobile applications. It has allowed new data to be showcased on the broadcast.
“This year, we are rolling out augmented reality and artificial enhancements.”
“Sports helps us change the game. To experience the Indy 500 as a digital fan here in Australia is a tremendous opportunity.”
The INDYCAR Mobile App powered by NTT DATA is a one-stop shop for all things INDYCAR, from first-timers to race connoisseurs. It allows fans to watch and listen to team information. On non-race days, it contains standings, statistics, exclusive content and other recent news.
Other features include personalized fan profiles, push notifications and alerts, live timing and scoring including telemetry. There is also integration to social media, the INDYCAR store and INDYCAR Nation. A fantasy racing application is new for 2020.
It’s free for download on iOS and Android platforms and was featured in Apple App store Friday, August 21 prior to the race. Download the INDYCAR App today.
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