Toyota stated this week that they'll be using Windows 8 on Surface Pro tablets to help improve their track performance during NASCAR races this year according to an interview with ITworld.com.
The automotive company designed an app called Trackside for Windows 8 as a way to monitor and deliver race data to the crew chief according to Darren Jones, a group lead for software development at Toyota Racing Development.
"Trackside running on Surface Pro means more time is spent o the track and less time is spent talking," said Steve Wickham, TRD's vice president of chassis operations according to Microsoft. "Teams are back on the track faster, allowing them more time to determine the optimum setup for the race car. Our mission is to take advantage of the latest innovation in technology to quickly get better data, which translates into faster cars on the track."
The app also allows drivers to input data based on their experience on the track.
The company claims the tablet system is "essential" to improve their race performance and communication between the driver and crew chief during a race. The crew chief usually has to shout over a noisy crowd of thousands of NASCAR fans and the driver has to communicate while driving at speeds of over 175 mph.
"If we need to go to the trailer to review data and discuss strategies we lose 15 minutes," said Jones according to ITworld.com. "In this business races are won by hundredths of a second so every second counts on and off the track."
The new app also allows the driver to pull into a garage, review timing and score data to determine where their car is having issues on the track according to ITworld.com. This allows the crew chief to make adjustments and get back on the track quicker than ever before.
This isn't the first time Toyota has used an app to improve race performance, as they previously used an app on Windows 7 called Race Strategy. The timing and scoring app was used during Toyota practice runs to compare lap times.
There were restrictions to the previous app however, as it wasn't touch-enabled and had to be accessed through a keyboard and mouse according to Toyota, making it almost impossible for a driver to access in a car. The new Windows 8 app allows drivers to easily access it while sitting in their car.
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