Differential Equations, Science and NASCAR - Oh My!
As any NASCAR fan knows ESPN has utilized new graphics the last two events that purportedly show the dynamics of air flow around a car under speed.
From my own perusal of various places around the net general opinion seems to match my feelings on the new Draft Track feature, it’s innovative and something not seen before, but should be part of a pre-race show and not what amounts to a distraction to the race itself.
As someone who grew up watching Mr. Wizard, conducted my own “experiments” on the local frog population, and sat on the edge of my seat with each new NASA mission I was surprised to learn there’s more to ESPN’s Draft Track than a twenty something graphics artist sitting at an overpriced Mac (sorry Luke, just the facts!) pulling in 6 figures per year.
There’s a hell of a lot behind the Draft Track curtain. Things like Navier-Stokes equations (Hey don’t ask me I had to look it up!), code written by two students and Professor at University of Washington and a peek at how Pixar Animation Studios use physical laws in their animations.
Originally the technology was meant to be used in video games and flight simulators. Early this year Sportvision, the folks behind Draft Track and the glowing puck used in NHL broadcasts, the NFL first down lines, (they suck as well!) obtained a “nonexclusive, open-source agreement where the company would be allowed to use the technique.”
It’s not all silly graphics though, the students hope the technology can be used for “realistic training simulations such as firefighters entering a smoke-filled building.”
A much higher purpose, I think most would agree, than adding unneeded, unwanted clutter to my TV screen when I’m trying to see the latest NASCAR screwup race to the Chase event.
NASCAR, NEXTEL Cup, Sports, ESPN, Draft Track, Science Blog, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
what i dont like about the draft track thing, and mostly the way espn has been using it… to a new fan or for fans still learning the sport or to just people with broken remote controls, the draft track gives the impression that passes are only made because of the air on the car. grip? handling? driver? horsepower? no, that all means nothing, you only need to know how to get the air on the nose of your car.
Aw Marc, leave the techies alone, they have to do something to distract us during all the cow-shuns and slow stretches of the races. Innovation is a good thing!
If it wasn’t for Al Gore inventing the internet, where would we all be with our expertise and golden insights on all things wheeled?
kevinD - in a lot of respects what you say is exactly how things work at Daytona and Talladega. HP became a thing of the past when the restictor plate era dawned, races since have been about avoiding The Big One and having a drafting partner in the last ten laps.
George, got nothing against innovation, just keep the ghost-like images off my race images. Put’em on the pre-race show.