INDYCAR races into a data-driven future

When your work environment comprises hundreds of thousands of fans watching the world’s most advanced race cars going wheel-to-wheel at hundreds of miles an hour, you can’t leave anything to chance.

Technology is the foundation of the success of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To maintain that success, they’re digitalizing the entire race-day experience. This requires creating an environment that can capture an ever-increasing amount of data and present it to fans and race organizers.

While the high-octane excitement of motor racing may seem a million miles away from most companies’ day-to-day operations, the underlying business challenges and technical solutions aren’t as different as you might imagine.

Future-looking organizations focus on turning their infrastructure, applications and data into actionable insights to deliver measurable business value. Much of this data is gathered from a growing fleet of connected devices. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, multiple sensors, systems and cameras monitor all areas of the expansive venue on the weekend of the Indianapolis 500, enabling a fully digital experience.

Taking data to the next level

We’re using the collection and analysis of this data on NTT platforms to deliver a fully interactive fan experience – at the venue, at home or anywhere people are connected.

At the same time, the applications and data help the race organizers create an enjoyable experience for fans, drivers and race teams by alerting them to any issues before they have an impact.

One example is how they use real-time information combined with powerful analytical models to drive predictive incident management rather than taking a reactive approach. The implementation of a digital twin at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, powered by historical information and real-time input from the data sources around the venue, ensures that the event runs smoothly and safely. Read more about digital twins here.

A data-driven INDYCAR graphic showing pit time differentials during a race.

Much has already been written about the growth of the metaverse, and the experiences being created today are laying the foundation for the user experiences we’ll see in the near future. As sensors monitor more and more of our physical environment, we can start delivering virtual experiences that closely mimic being at a sports venue or anywhere else, all powered by live data. This will fundamentally alter the way people organize and experience events – or how a manufacturer considers the design and effectiveness of a component.

Powered by real-time data and Edge as a Service

Although a better fan experience is a critical outcome for the INDYCAR race organizers, predictive intelligence can be used across many other environments, from theme parks to manufacturing plants and offices.

Using predictive analytics and Edge as a Service technology, the event organizers in Indianapolis can monitor queues at entry gates, crowd levels in critical areas and even the waiting time at concession stands. How they choose to act on the data depends on their priorities, which may shift depending on what’s happening at any given time.

The same data-driven principles apply to other environments too. At a theme park, the insights provided by predictive analytics may help minimize queue times or divert visitors to less popular attractions to ensure an even flow of people through the park.

Our clients can use the same underlying technology in logistics, for example, to minimize waiting times for trucks at distribution centers. In healthcare, it can help to optimize the time that caregivers spend with each patient. Targeted operational efficiency is the governing principle here.

As part of our partnership with INDYCAR, we’re using the underlying power of our NTT Smart Solutions and Platform and the capabilities of sensors, cameras and networks to create an interconnected, data-driven solution.

As more organizations take advantage of the benefits of connected industries, the power of data and predictive analytics can transform the way business is conducted.

To learn more about how we support the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, read our case study.

Peter Cutts is Senior Vice President, Digital Advisory and Innovation, at NTT.