For years, NASCAR fans have heard about the effects of drafting on high-speed racetracks and how certain drivers were so good in the draft it was said they could “see the air.” Now, as Nextel Cup racing returns to ESPN with Sunday’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, a technical innovation developed by ESPN and SportVision will allow fans to see the air when they watch ESPN’s coverage of the Nextel Cup and Busch Series. Beginning with Sunday’s telecast of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN will enhance its NASCAR coverage with Draft Track, a special effects package that will provide to viewers a never-before-seen effect that shows airflow created by NASCAR race cars. When ESPN’s producers activate Draft Track, viewers will see air flowing over and behind race cars as they speed around the track, whether there is one car or a multi-car pack on the television screen. The Draft Track airflow visualization will change as the cars, in relation 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. The new effect will initially be used on replays. (ESPN PR), see a demo of the technology on the ESPN site.(7-25-2007)
