INDIANAPOLIS – With the start of the IndyCar Series just three days away, the official Web site of the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series, www.indycar.com, is keeping pace with a fresh look and expanded features for 2008.
Highlighting the update is a daily TV-style show, “Up to Speed!” that reviews and previews events, showcases the players and personalities of both series and goes behind the scenes whereever both series travel.
Video and audio files from the Indy Racing League’s in-house production units – IMS Productions and IMS Radio Network – also are featured and complement the news and informational stories that have been fan favorites.
Additionally, ESPN reporter Jack Arute and IMS Radio Network host Mike King return with weekly commentaries that dive into such topics as why a driver won or lost a race. Former IndyCar Series driver and current ESPN analyst Scott Goodyear will provide commentaries during the month of May, leading up to the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
“The redesigned indycar.com Web site takes advantage of the very latest in online technology and innovation to allow us to connect with our fans in ways that simply weren’t possible in the past,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the Commercial Division for the Indy Racing League, sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series. “The IndyCar Series has a very bright future, and this site will provide an excellent platform for fans across the country and around the world to be a part of it. It’s a great way to stay connected.”
Among the new elements on the site is IndyCar Mobile, a new, state-of-the art mobile content feature that will allow fans to take most of the information on indycar.com with them on their mobile phones, whereever they go. Launching March 28, IndyCar Mobile will allow fans to text the keyword “IndyCar” to 234500 or 23907 and receive free, real-time information on their mobile phone, including race schedules, video highlights, breaking news alerts, driver and team bios and special offers and discounts. For a small annual fee, subscribers can choose to have alerts sent to their phone, notifying them of breaking news and on-track updates as they happen.
Another new feature is IndyCar Race Control, a dynamic new way for fans to experience the wheel-to-wheel drama of IndyCar Series racing like never before. A partnership between leading global online broadcaster MediaZone, ESPN and the IndyCar Series, IndyCar Race Control will take live, streaming race broadcasts to a new level. For $39.99 a season, fans will be able to select and switch between live race feeds, in-car camera angles, first-of-its-kind 360-degree in-car camera views, live pit communication audio, racing news updates, driver blog entries and onboard telemetry data, all in one place.
Fan contributions remain a central component of the site, with hit features such as Design It, Talkback and Fan Photos from the Track. Navigation also remains simple, with compartmentalized sections that provide viewers with a rich experience.
During race weekends, viewers can watch every practice and qualifying session for free via streaming video supplemented by the IMS Radio Network’s call and live Timing & Scoring. Additionally, every IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series race will be streamed live on the site for free.
