Panasonic, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Enhance the Indy Fan Experience with Millions of Pixels and Trillions of Colors, Delivering Stunning Race Content in Real Time

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Panasonic Corporation of North America

May 19, 2015, 12:29 ET

NEWARK, N.J., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway fans will experience the raw speed and intensity of the 99^th Indianapolis 500 – up close and personal – courtesy of 20 newly-installed LED video boards from Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America. Significantly larger and brighter digital video boards, with the capacity to display content in real time, will now enable hundreds of thousands of spectators to watch the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" with the same level of clarity and intimacy as viewers watching at home.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway selected Panasonic to build a network of next-generation video boards located throughout the infield and in front of the grandstands of the legendary 2.5-mile oval. Over a three-month period, Panasonic installed a series of customized, networked LED displays measuring 11,540 total square feet, more than double the size of the previous boards. Panasonic engineers also incorporated 10mm pixel count technology into many of the displays, including the large screens at each of the track's four turns, giving those video boards the tightest pixel pitch of any display in motorsports. The digital displays have the capacity to deliver rich content unparalleled in resolution, imaging clarity and crispness from among 281 trillion color combinations. Better views of larger, brighter video boards will allow fans to stay on top of all the action along the massive track and inside the team pit areas, while also experiencing the sights and sounds of the Indy 500 through the technological wizardry of more than 10 million pixels being brought to life.

"Our focus is preserving the traditions and legacies of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while finding creative ways of using the latest technologies to create an immersive fan experience," said Doug Boles, President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Through the investments we continue to make in 'Project 100' and our relationship with Panasonic, we believe we're providing our fans with the first-class entertainment experience they deserve. Cutting edge technology, a state-of-the-art video production control room and LED digital displays improve our ability to reach more people and promote stronger involvement, enthusiasm and connectivity between the race and our fans."

Advanced system capabilities gives programmers expanded versatility to use the optimal mix of content elements to engage, inform and entertain fans, ranging from animation, multi-screen images and built-in social media components to replays, close-up angles and graphics. Fans will receive up-to-date information from hundreds of data points, such as speed, RPMs, tire pressure, car throttle, oil readings, lap counter and leader positions. (Bringing fans even closer to the action).

"One of the key aspects of this project was synchronizing all content – data, graphics and video – to produce a solution with unmatched resolution and the capacity to perform multiple functions in a seamless fashion," stated Jim Doyle, President of Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company. "We worked closely with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to design a high-end, integrated technology solution that raises the bar on the connected fan experience while giving sponsors a dynamic, interactive messaging platform to solicit consumer engagement, increase brand visibility and grow revenues."

To manage the various challenges of broadcasting an event covering a large geographical area, taking place at high speeds and aggregating data from multiple camera feeds, Panasonic Enterprise Solutions introduced a front-end system interface solution that functions as the software brains inside the speedway's broadcast production control room. For operators, Panasonic's technology solution streamlines an elaborate process of managing the intricate arrangement of data and imagery into one cohesive canvas, eliminating the complexities associated with stitching together separate collections of individual picture elements to produce a seamless image.

In June 2014, Panasonic installed the venue's 92-foot-tall rectangular scoring pylon. The four-sided pylon stands taller and wider than its predecessor, and contains 5,280 individual LED panels to offer vastly improved messaging capabilities. As part of its partnership, Panasonic is also sponsoring the Pagoda, one of the most iconic structures in worldwide motorsports.

Panasonic Enterprise Solutions is a recognized leader in producing customized digital displays serving motorsports, having designed and installed some of the largest and most innovative high-definition LED video boards in the world. Other motorsports projects include Guinness World Record-certified 'Big Hoss TV' at Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway which was the biggest video board in the world at the time it was built in 2011, Richmond International Raceway (VA), Louden Motor Speedway (NH), Homestead-Miami Speedway (FL) and Sonoma Raceway (CA).

2015 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for all racing events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015 – The 99^th Indianapolis 500, Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational, Lilly Diabetes 250, Crown Royal Presents the "Your Hero's Name Here" 400 at the Brickyard and Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at 866-221-8775 for more information. Information on parking and camping at IMS events is available at www.ims.com/tickets. Fans have three quick, convenient methods to buy tickets:

Online: Visit www.ims.com/tickets. Tickets are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Phone: Call 800-822-INDY or 317-492-6700 between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.
In Person: Visit the IMS Ticket Office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16^th Street between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday.

Media Website: media.ims.com

About Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company
Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In Interbrand's 2014 annual "Best Global Green Brands" report, Panasonic ranked number five overall and the top electronics brand in the report. As part of continuing sustainability efforts, Panasonic Corporation of North America relocated its headquarters to a new facility, adjacent to Newark Penn Station in Newark, NJ. It is the first newly-constructed office tower in Newark to earn both LEED Platinum and Gold certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council. Learn more about Panasonic at us.panasonic.com/news.

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SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America