A few things move faster than the high-tech race cars traveling the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In May, American Josef Newgarden won his second consecutive Indy 500 with an average speed of 167.763 miles per hour. However, Newgarden’s car might not have been the fastest at the Speedway on Memorial Day; that honor goes to the data flying around on IMS’s millimeter-wave 5G nodes. Verizon Communications Inc. built the network and managed the distributed antenna system (DAS). Other carriers connect to the DAS so their subscribers can participate in racing’s datapalooza.
Data throughput on the DAS has hit 40 terabytes and keeps rising yearly, according to Rebecca Ruselink, Chief Information Officer for Penske Entertainment, which runs INDYCAR and IMS. The high-powered network delivers an array of data-driven features to the 350,000 people who pack the track on race day, enhancing their experience.
NTT Corp., the title sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, plays a crucial role in collecting and sharing this data via its NTT DATA Inc. unit. Bennett Indart, Vice President of Smart World Solutions for NTT DATA, mentions the company provides comprehensive content about the race, the drivers, and the teams. The NTT DATA team offers racing analytics and data insights, predicting race outcomes based on diverse factors and sharing these predictions on social media and NBC TV.
The INDYCAR app provides fans with engaging features, including race watching, leaderboards, driver and pit crew audio, and live video feeds from cars. NTT DATA’s software also aids operational and security teams by monitoring gate queue times, which are then shared with fans through the app. This digital enhancement has significantly increased app usage, boosting fan engagement.
Each race car is equipped with about 140 sensors, generating massive amounts of data shared with organizers, broadcasters, and fans. The insights gained from this data include shifts in technology usage among fans, such as a notable increase in Apple device users. The Penske Entertainment team uses these insights to improve the fan experience continually, focusing on elements like the leaderboard and other popular app features.
The venue also utilizes data to keep fans informed and minimize wait times at entry gates and concession lines. Indart compared this system to what TSA does at airports, indicating effective crowd management and speedy entry times.
Another innovative use of all this data involves creating experiences for fans, like a simulator that mimics the feel of driving an Indy car around the track using data from a real race car. Beyond enhancing the fan experience, NTT DATA also leverages data for sustainability, focusing on tracking greenhouse gas emissions and providing carbon accounting for many industries.
The ever-increasing speed and data utilization in auto racing not only enhance sports entertainment but also offer valuable insights and solutions across various sectors.
Source: Merging auto racing and high-tech data enables a faster ride for everyone.
