Andretti Green Racing's partnership with XM Satellite Radio has more to do than just talk shows and sponsorships. AGR used XM WX Weather for up-to-the-second intelligence during the rain-soaked Indy 500 as part of their arsenal of tech tools.
While other teams were relying on local weather forecasts to layout their strategies, AGR was using streaming real-time weather data delivered trackside to their team computers.
Well, not quite. Although they might have had this data they certainly didn't make good use of it. I watched the Indy 500 and I was pulling up weather data from various online weather sites. It was obvious to me that they wouldn't finish this race without rain coming in big time for a second time and ending the race. With AGR having 3 cars up front I would have definitely left at least 2 if not 3 of them out there running instead of pulling them into the pits. The decision to bring them into the pits cost them dearly if you ask me.While other teams were relying on local weather forecasts to layout their strategies, AGR was using streaming real-time weather data delivered trackside to their team computers.