NASCAR’s use of high-speed cameras and laser technology to determine race finishes has come under scrutiny following a record-breaking close finish between Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher at the recent race in Kansas. While Buescher’s crew chief acknowledged that there was nothing to dispute the outcome, questions remain regarding the accuracy of the system. The finish line itself was not perfectly straight, adding to the confusion. However, NASCAR’s process of using the same technology as major sporting events such as horse racing and Olympic track-and-field to determine winners involves a laser, thin line, and high-speed camera capturing images at several thousand frames per second. The resulting image is compiled almost instantaneously, although it only shows moving objects and not the painted finish line itself. The timing lines embedded in the racing surface consider the position of the line in relation to the car’s front edge to trigger the transponder, which is attached to the car’s rear. While the transponder’s position may vary slightly due to the movement of the car during the race, NASCAR maintains that the transponder’s margin of error is ±0.0015 seconds. To improve the accuracy of the finish line, NASCAR may need to inspect it before races to ensure it is correctly marked. Additionally, the computer software could display an overlay of the precise finish line onto the painted version to prevent any confusion. Ultimately, getting the correct result is paramount, and NASCAR claims to have achieved this in the Kansas race.
Accuracy of NASCAR Finish Line Technology Called into Question after Close Race
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