ESPN NASCAR Coverage Most Technologically Advanced in Motorsports History
All Races Produced in High Definition

NASCAR welcomed back an old friend last year with ESPN’s return to coverage of the sport, and the old friend has a sophisticated and modern look.

ESPN and ESPN on ABC’s coverage of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series is the most technologically advanced programming in the history of televised motorsports, according to Jed Drake, senior vice president and executive producer for ESPN.

"ESPN's presentation of NASCAR is state of the art at every level of production,” said Drake. ”We built a production plan that is providing a truly exceptional presentation to our viewers."

A FIRST IN MOTORSPORTS: IN-CAR CAMERAS IN HD

All NASCAR on ESPN races and associated programming are being totally produced in High Definition. And of the approximately 60 to 75 cameras that are used by ESPN in televising each race, more than used in any other sport, all are HD. ESPN was the first to use an HD in-car camera.

ESPN was a pioneer in the development of in-car cameras during its 20 seasons of NASCAR coverage from 1981-2000. The HD in-car cameras made their world debut in ESPN2’s coverage of a NASCAR Nationwide Series practice session at Daytona Feb. 15, 2007.

“In-car cameras are probably the most dynamic facet of motorsports coverage and taking that into the high-def world was huge,” said Rich Feinberg, vice president, motorsports, ESPN event and studio production. The camera systems had to be re-engineered for HD, as did the camera power and transmission systems within the race cars, all while maintaining a delicate balance to not add weight to the cars and possibly affect their performance.

ESPN’s NASCAR coverage also includes HD cameras providing other interesting points of view, including grass cam, wall cam, crew cams, pit overhead cams, blimps and multiple robotic cameras at various points around the tracks. All were introduced during the course of the 2007 season as technology for them became available. The process continues in 2008.

SPORTVISION TECHNOLOGY RAISES PRODUCTION STANDARD FOR NASCAR TELECASTS

ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season, with select events televised by ESPN and ABC. As part of ESPN’s commitment to the series, the network is utilizing the same standards of production for the NASCAR Nationwide Series as it will for telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races of 2008.

In addition to 100 percent use of HD cameras, ESPN also produces NASCAR’s top two series with Sportvision technology, which until 2007 no TV network had ever used in NASCAR Nationwide Series coverage.

Sportvision utilizes satellite technology to create on-screen “pointers” to designate specific cars within a pack, helping viewers distinguish their favorite driver’s car, lead-lap cars and produces telemetry from the race cars to show speeds, braking and other compelling information to viewers. All cars in the races carry Sportvision transmitters.

ESPN also worked with Sportvision to create Draft Track, a special effect that allows viewers to “see the air” that surrounds NASCAR race cars at speed. The Draft Track airflow visualization changes as the cars, in relation to each other, change position in real time on the racetrack, including passing, racing side by side or when cars are lined up nose to tail. Draft Track is used primarily in telecasts from superspeedways.

“We’re not finished experimenting and finding new technologies,” Drake said. “It’s a hallmark of ESPN to constantly push the envelope and seek new ways to satisfy our curiosity and that of our viewers. NASCAR is one of the most exciting and dynamic sports on television and we will continue to seek out ways to make it even more appealing.”

ESPN’S NASCAR FAST FACTS:

• 10 – Number of months ESPN’s NASCAR fleet will be on the road (February-November)
• 11 – Mobile units at each race (including pit studio, DISH Tech Center (2), mobile office, in-car camera trailer, uplink trucks)
• 19 – EVS servers for race and studio production (high-speed digital recording)
• 20 – maximum miles of video, audio and power cable needed on site at race tracks
• 26 – Tracks ESPN’s mobile fleet will visit in 2008
• 38 – NASCAR events ESPN’s mobile fleet will attend in 2008
• 52 – NASCAR races to be televised live by ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN on ABC in 2008 (full 35-race NASCAR Nationwide Series season, final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup events)
• 60-75 – HD Cameras used by ESPN to televise a NASCAR race (including in-car cameras)
• 80 – microphones both wired and wireless used at each race
• 150 – Hotel rooms needed each event for ESPN personnel
• 225 – Credentialed ESPN personnel working on NASCAR each week
• 78,000 – Weight in pounds of ESPN traveling studio for NASCAR Countdown shows
• 267,744 – Projected combined miles ESPN’s core of seven mobile units will log in 2008

STATE-OF-THE-ART PRODUCTION UNITS, PIT STUDIO, DISH TECH CENTER

ESPN uses four of what Feinberg said are “the most sophisticated mobile production units ever built in the history of TV motorsports, designed just for our NASCAR coverage.” Among the innovations within the ESPN-branded units is a radio room in which radio transmissions of all 43 teams in NASCAR races can be recorded during races, allowing producers to be able to lift specific transmissions of any driver or team at any time. “I call it the ultimate TiVo,” said Feinberg.

For its NASCAR Countdown studio shows that precede all NASCAR race telecasts, ESPN is originating from the most technologically-advanced traveling studio ever used in sports television. The studio, which weighs nearly 78,000 pounds and will travel to 26 NASCAR tracks this season, allows ESPN to bring the look and feel of its Bristol, Conn.,-based studio shows such as SportsCenter and Sunday NFL Countdown to the tracks.

The mobile pit studio is outfitted with state-of-the-art LED lighting, three robotic HD cameras and a dramatic, contoured, video display fronting the anchor desk. Situated near the pits at every track, the studio is elevated 14 feet while in use and 30 foot glass windows give viewers a look at the cars, grandstands and pageantry prior to the race start. “We want to show the scope and size of the sport,” Feinberg said.

And ESPN brought the sophistication even higher when it introduced the DISH Tech Center in July of 2007. The enclosed studio contains two ESPN Chevy Cutaway Cars that are used in ESPN’s NASCAR coverage. The studio also has room for displays of other race car elements such as engines, transmissions and shock absorbers. ESPN’s Tim Brewer, a two-time NASCAR champion crew chief, and other ESPN analysts report from the Tech Center during race telecasts to help viewers better understand the technical and mechanical aspects of NASCAR racing.

The ESPN DISH Tech Center allows ESPN to present segments in the telecasts that originate from an enclosed, controlled environment with no exterior interference, adding to the viewing experience and giving NASCAR fans more information.

About NASCAR on ESPN:
ESPN and ESPN on ABC has comprehensive, multi-platform coverage featuring telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races, including the 10-race “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup” on ESPN on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 is the home of the NASCAR Nationwide Series all season. All programming is produced totally in High Definition. ESPN’s comprehensive, multimedia NASCAR coverage extends to ESPN.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, SportsCenter, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPNRadio, ESPN360.com and ESPN International, among other ESPN platforms. ESPN aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in 1981 and returned to NASCAR coverage in 2007. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage on ESPN was honored with 17 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide. NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts on the award-winning Wide World of Sports program in the 1960s.

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