SMT Powers Real-Time Data Integration for Indy 500 on ABC

SMT provided real-time data integration services and on-air graphics for the broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 on ABC. Since 1995, SMT’s technology has enhanced the broadcasts of the Indianapolis 500 and qualifying races, delivering data-driven graphics, official timing and scoring systems, tracking, race crawls, real-time telemetry, and talent prompters. The annual 500-mile race unfolded on May 28 at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, IN.

With SMT’s ISO Track system, viewers easily followed their favorite drivers in a tight pack, with images from in-car cameras and aerial coverage of the race track. ISO Track made it possible to integrate dynamic camera images with graphics, real-time statistics and telemetry information and allowed sponsors to integrate branding with qualifying race results graphics.

This data integration was made possible via SMT’s Data Matrix Switchboard (DMX), a data hub that absorbs, collates and distributes real-time data streams such as on-board feeds, time codes, timing and scoring, pit and position and historical statistics. This data was distributed to the on-air race crawl, talent prompters, and SMT’s GOTO Board, a custom built interactive touch screen used by commentators to share with the television audience key race information, including on-track weather conditions, pole qualifying results, racing statistics, racing technology, the qualifying racers, images from pitrow, the start grid, and biometrics.

SMT also provided the popular split screen “Side-by-Side” feature, a split-screen format that provided continuous race coverage, including SMT’s scoring ticker, on half the screen during commercials. This feature has been used in Indy Car Series telecasts since 2005. With Side-by-Side, fans don’t miss a moment of race action.

“We are proud to partner with ESPN to bring the highest level of broadcast technology available to this year’s Indianapolis 500,” says Gerard J. Hall, founder, president, CEO, SMT. “With SMT’s data-rich graphics highlighting integral telemetry, tracking, and statistics, viewers watching the race will experience incredible, up-close views paired with the content today’s fans crave.”