Case Study

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

PLAY VIDEO

SECTION 1

Introduction

Located in the “Racing Capital of the World,” the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a renowned 2.5-mile oval circuit and home to one of the most prestigious motorsport races globally, the Indy 500.

With a capacity of 257,325, it holds the distinction of being the largest sports venue in the world. In the spring of 2020, IMS Productions partnered with Ross Video to install a Unified Venue Control Solution at this historic venue, fondly known as the “Brickyard.”

Section 2

The Challenge

Upon acquiring the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in January 2020, Roger Penske embarked on major capital upgrades.

From the beautification of the surrounding grounds to a complete overhaul of the in-venue production system, Penske completely rejuvenated the iconic motorsport venue.

After years of incremental technology updates to the in-venue production system, the IMS Production team faced the challenge of designing a new end-to-end solution. Their plans included integrating all videoboards throughout the venue and installing 20 new video boards, including the impressive 104 ft x 20 ft Pagoda Board.

Section 3

The Solution

Motorsport, with cars reaching speeds of 250 miles per hour, poses unique live production requirements.

IMS Productions sought a flexible and robust solution to capture all angles of the track and deliver real-time content to the hundreds of thousands of fans in attendance.

To address these challenges, they collaborated closely with Ross Video’s Sports & Live Events team to develop a custom solution that would unify all aspects of their workflow.

At the heart of the revamped solution was Acuity, Ross Video’s flagship production switcher. Acuity, a multiple ME switcher, managed five different program feeds throughout the speedway. Complementing Acuity were three XPression Tessera SE systems, providing pixel-accurate graphics for over 47 LED displays of various shapes and sizes. The DashBoard control system unified all 47 displays, offering a highly flexible and scalable solution.

We to needed level-set our production system in order to control all of the new displays and to give the audience the right view. With the Acuity Production Switcher and XPression Tessera system, Ross provided us with a solution that delivered a seamless workflow for our production team. It was the one-stop solution that we needed.

Jason King
Director of Engineering, IMS Productions

The Ross solution at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway includes:

Section 4

The Impact

Following the postponement and limited fan attendance at the 2020 Indy 500, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway welcomed back 135,000 fans in May 2021 for its flagship event

To manage the onboard camera feeds, a custom DashBoard control panel was designed, enabling operators to easily select and broadcast thrilling scenes from the track to the large Pagoda board. The Ross sports team innovatively integrated a MultiViewer into DashBoard via an NDI feed, allowing operators to view every onboard camera feed and push out the most captivating live feed to the fans. Selecting an onboard feed triggered the XPression Tessera system to display corresponding car data, including the driver’s name, car number, lap number, and on-track speeds. This exemplifies the Ross Sports team’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of production innovation.

To explore how Ross Video creates unforgettable live event experiences for sports fans and streamlines operations for in-house production teams, visit our Sports Venue Solutions page.

Interested in more info? Send us a note!

We’ll put you in touch with a member of our team to discuss your specific needs.