FOX adds Top Gun cockpit cam to IndyCar broadcast toolkit
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FOX Sports has introduced a new 'Top Gun' camera for its IndyCar broadcasts, a rear-facing cockpit camera that offers a wide field of view. This new camera is part of an ongoing effort by FOX Sports and BSI to implement innovations for IndyCar broadcasts, including the Driver's Eye camera and live data integration, aiming to enhance the viewer experience.
Key Takeaways
- The Top Gun cam mounts on the central spar of IndyCar’s titanium halo and looks back at the driver.
- Its wide field of view shows the steering wheel and more of the aeroscreen’s left and right sides during passes and overtakes.
- FOX and BSI started with the Driver’s Eye camera last year and later added live data on top of the inside-the-helmet feed.
- At any given race, 15 cars carry one or more in-car feeds; FOX said that could reach 16 by the Indianapolis 500.
- FOX is also testing a dual-pass transmission to stream more simultaneous car feeds for the director to use at once.
Why It Matters
FOX is using its IndyCar broadcast rights to add more in-car camera angles, not just more camera count. The immediate effect is a wider, more detailed cockpit view that gives the director another option during passes and overtakes. The broader pattern is FOX and BSI treating IndyCar as a test bed for Driver’s Eye, live data, and now Top Gun, with FOX also holding a 33% stake in IndyCar’s parent company. Watch for the promised debut of another new camera angle at the Washington, D.C. race and a different mounting position for the Indianapolis 500.
Read full article at racer.com