ESPN plans "most advanced" HD coverage for NASCAR in 2007
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jan 27th 2007 11:11AM
posted Jan 27th 2007 11:11AM
ESPN recently revealed its plans for broadcasting NASCAR races during the upcoming season, in what the network is calling "most technologically advanced in motorsports history". Every race will be done completely in HD, including in car cameras, pit crew, blimp and other angles. All of this goes along with the mobile studio ESPN will use to broadcast NASCAR Countdown shows from each race, and a radio room that allows ESPN to record and replay clips from any driver-pit crew transmissions. You can expect the full HD treatment on every Busch Series race this year (aired on ESPN2-HD) and the final 17 Nextel Cup races on ESPN and ABC. We've already come to expect top notch HD broadcasts from TNT, Fox and HDNet's coverage of the sport and it appears ESPN is ready to raise the bar yet again.
NBC/TNT coverage of Nascar has always been less than stellar IMO. Fox has always done a superb job, and I expect great things from ESPN. It is good to see that Nascar made changes to the Chase. One thing I wish they would do is shorten the season, however. By mid-August I am nearly burned out from watching it.
Now if they'd only give the same coverage to Formula 1 racing...
They won't ever have "free" HD in Formula One, not as long as Bernie "Mine Mine Mine" Ecclestone is running the commercial side.
It would be beautiful though. Could you imagine an HD shot of Spa, with the cars flying through Eau Rouge and the treelines in the background?
Pity it won't ever happen for free.