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When you describe it in words, the Indianapolis 500 might seem like a boring watch: Cars go round and round an oval track 200 times, totaling 500 miles over the course of a few hours. But if you were a driver, youd be having a hell of a different experience. Think screaming speeds of 230 miles per hour, pulling 4 Gs on corners, with ones reflexes and split-second decisions drawing a thin line between victory and tragedy . . . over the course of a few hours. Its a level of intensity that TV networks have been trying to bring viewers into for years with in-car cameras and things like driver radio communiques. It has been working. Last year, NBCwhich covered the spectacle from 20192024netted the most streams of the race ever and averaged 5.34 million total viewers, up from 4.9 million in 2023 and 4.8 million in 2022. This year marks FOXs first time ever broadcasting it, and they likely want that trend to continue, so theyre throwing all the tech they have at it. And that includes the innovative, diminutive Drivers Eye, dubbed the worlds smallest live broadcast camera, which brings fans directly into drivers’ helmets (quite literally) like never before. For the first time in Indy 500 history, viewers will have a view of the race exactly as its stars see it from within their helmetsfrom dramatic passes and vehicle-quaking jousts to the very mechanics of how they operate their cars at such speeds. [Photo: Bell Racing] Driver’s Eye brings the human factor, says Alex Miotto Haristos, COO of Racing Force Group, which owns the tech. It brings the struggle. And it could bring the ratings, tooespecially if it catches on in the series like it has in Formula 1. [Photo: Bell Racing] MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE The UK-born, Italy-raised Haristos is perhaps an unlikely creator of racing gear. He began his career in management consulting and later real estate before acquiring an electronics company and launching it as Zeronoise in 2018 with Stephane Cohen of Bell Racing Helmets. Haristos doesnt come from a racing background, but rather dubs himself a business engineer who saw it as an opportunity. He says he quickly found himself falling down the rabbit hole into a passion project given the sheer challenging nature of the Drivers Eye tech, which they began developing in 2019. Ray Harroun driving his Marmon Wasp, the first winner of the Indy Race in 1911. [Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images] That challenge is very real when youre working on a product meant to be inserted into a race-car drivers most critical piece of safety gear, particularly in a sport where said drivers head is sticking out of the car. Racing helmets are modern design marvels that evolved out of leather and cloth versions in the Indy 500’s early days to steel helmets in 1916. According to IndyCar, every driver has a primary and one or two backups, and theyre all custom-fit and produced per FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) standards. (Want to buy your own? Haristos says thatll cost you between $5,000 and $8,000.) The outer shell features ultralight carbon fiber; theres a fireproof liner; a built-in airbag to assist in helmet removal without neck strain; numerous elements to ensure maximum aerodynamics in 200+ mph runs; and audio insulation so drivers can communicate with their teams over the roar of 33 engines on the track. Your job is to not alter any feature of the helmet, Haristos says. The helmet you don’t touch. You have to work with what you have, and you have to manage to integrate everything seamlessly. This is the trick. [Photo: Bell Racing] The team set out to capture exactly what a driver was seeing on the racetrack, raw and unfiltered, shakes and alland quickly understood that they couldnt work on the outer surface of a helmet because it would be a safety issue. So they homed in on the side padding of the helmet that Haristos says is around a centimeter away from the eye, which, given the sensitive proximity, went through the FIA for approval, as well. The organizatin mandated a minuscule size and weight for the camera, so rather than starting with what image quality they wanted to achieve and so on, We started working backwards. And in the beginning it was like, No, this is impossible. Ultimately, the team had to break apart camera design as we know ita single unitand separate the internal systems to make it work. They stripped out everything they could for what needed to go in the helmet, and were left with a tiny sensor with the ability to capture high-res video (in the case of the Indy 500, in 1080p, 60fps) in the smallest of real estate. Today, that unit clocks in at 8.8 x 8.8 mm, and weighs less than a dime. Then, they moved the rest of the cameras guts to the car itself. Which is also a feat, particularly in Indy racing, which involves older cars that are already stuffed to the max from additions over the years. You can’t do one thing without affecting another, says Michael Davies, FOX EVP of field and technical management and operations. There’s no change that you can make on a car that doesn’t fuck something else up. And I’m always reminded of something a very smart man said, which is that when you solve a problem, you inevitably create another one, but you must make sure that the problem you create is smaller than the one that you solved. Haristos says that for Indy, they were told that the only available space was on the side of the car by the radiatornot an ideal spot, given the high temperature and so on. So they had to develop a custom housing that was more efficient and could operate at a higher temp while still fitting into the tightest of spaces. Ultimately, from the helmet camera to the housing, it was crucial that the additions all felt seamless to the driver. Comfort in motorsport translates into confidence, Haristos says. Confidence translates into performance. [Photo: Bell Racing] CROSSING THE POND Safety equipment manufacturer OMP Racing acquired Zeronoise in 2019and they also acquired Bell, a major purveyor of helmets to Formula 1 and the Indy 500, with 23 of the 33 drivers donning its headwear for the latter. (All the brands would eventually coalesce under the newly formed Racing Force Group in 2021; last year, it did $74.1 million in revenue, up 4.8% from 2023.) After they developed the first iteration of Drivers Eye, the team got it into Formula E racing in 2020, and was able to finalize the development of the tech, testing it in Formula 1 in 2021and giving race fanatics a new, visceral way to experience the sport. It gained ground, and in 2023 became mandatory in Formula 1. FOX tested Drivers Eye in some NASCAR races that same year, and now on Sunday youll be able to watch the Indy 500 from the perspective of 2023/2024 winner Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, Will Power, Marcus Ericsson and Felix Rosenqvist. Josef Newgarden [Photo: Bell Racing] Of course, theres more tech wizardry at play behind the scenes than merely hooking up a camera. The Drivers Eye is mounted in a dark helmet with a massive underexposureand the track is a massive overexposure. Drivers race with different filters and colors on their visors, which they can tear off in layers periodically throughout the race as they get dirty. Moreover, the Indy 500 is hours long, there are varying weather scenarios, the sun and shadows are moving, and everything is very much in a state of flux. Haristos says Drivers Eye compensates for all of it, from white balance to the varying visor colors, with a mix of automatic and manual controls, making for a seamless sync with the rest of the program. (Which, lets be honest, is criticala director has to use the shots, lest Drivers Eye be rendered obsolete.) From a production standpoint, FOXs Davies says that since the system allows for a view of drivers hands on the controls and exactly what theyre looking at in any given moment, its also a boon to race commentators, who have told him thats its the most useful angle for them in being able to craft a narrative around whats happening on the track. Moreover, he says the raw nature of the footage truly shows the athleticism at play on the part of the drivers, something that can get lost in traditional shots. We can really cover the event from the inside out, instead of the outside in, he says. And on top of that, he adds, its something sponsors likeand request. Thus a bevy of IndyCar racings household names. now driving with the cameras embedded in their helmets. The Drivers Eye is just one tiny tool in FOXs arsenal, which seems designed to shock and aweand plant a flag in their take on the race. For the first time, live drones will be deployed, including custom high-speed FPV drones; there are more than 100 cameras in play, 108 mics, 16 in-car cameras offering views of drivers faces and cockpits, and more (including 5.1 surround sound thatll blow your head off). We’re playing some pretty big hits here and looking forward to seeing how it enhances the big race, Davies says. You can see it in a completely different wayeven if you’ve watched Indy for as long as it’s been on TV.
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Embrace the suck. One of the first things you learn as a Marine is to “embrace the suck.” Not because it sounds toughbut because its how strength is forged. In todays world, where ease is glorified, we need to remember this truth: real strength comes from struggle. Before I became a leadership coach and positive psychology expert, I was a United States Marine Corps officer. I learned quickly that discomfort isnt a barrier to successits the path to it. And that truth still guides everything I do. You dont build strength by avoiding discomfort. You build it by seeking it. We live in a world where ease is glorifiedbut that pursuit is costing us our edge. Discomfort might feel inconvenient in the moment, but its the only thing that builds real confidence, grit, and growth. Earning the Title of United States Marine At 18, I flew from Minnesota to San Diego to begin Naval ROTCexcited, nervous, and wearing an outfit I thought would impress: hot pink polka-dot shorts, matching pumps, and a fresh manicure. Within hours, a senior candidate looked me over and said: Youll never make it as a Marine. Part of me believed him. I struggled. I couldnt keep up on the runs. I felt out of place. The only other female candidate quit. I was aloneand barely hanging on. But I didnt quit. I showed up, failed, kept going. And three years later, I graduated from Officer Candidate School as my universitys top finisher. That experience taught me something thats more relevant today than everespecially in a world of uncertainty, pressure, and burnout: seek discomfort day after day, and it will transform you. You dont feel strong at the start. But with each mile, each decision, and each refusal to quityou build it. Thats what grit looks like. And eventually, it changes who you are. What the Science Says About Discomfort Positive psychology research backs this up. Studies show that well-being doesnt come from avoiding strugglebut from pursuing meaning, engagement, and accomplishment, all of which require effort and discomfort. Research also confirms that gritnot talentis what sets high achievers apart. And neuroscience reveals that repeated effort under challenge helps the brain adapt and grow stronger. The Marine Corps taught me that long before I had the science to prove it. Everyday Acts of Discomfort You dont need a battlefield to build strength. Some of the most powerful moments of growth happen in everyday life: Telling the truth when silence feels safer Asking for help when youd rather pretend youve got it handled Speaking up when your heart is pounding Applying for that stretch assignment even though its scary These arent dramatic, but they are defining. They might not earn you medalsbut they build something more important: A life you respect. A mind that doesnt fold under pressure. The kind of grit thats becoming far too rare. Each time you lean into discomfort instead of away from it, you expand what you believe youre capable of. You sharpen your edge. You build mental muscle. The Power of Reps Marines dont build confidence from motivational speeches. We build it through reps. Cold. Muddy. Repetitive. Uncomfortable. But thats exactly the point: strength isnt forged in a single defining moment. Its built through small, repeated actsday after day, rep after rep. Its just like building a muscle. You dont get stronger by doing whats easy. You get stronger by lifting a little more weight, pushing through one more rep, and showing up when it would be easier not to. If you cant do something today, that doesnt mean you never will. It just means you havent put in enough repsyet. Each time you choose discomfort instead of ease, youre training your mind like youd train your body. Thats how growth worksphysically, mentally, and emotionally. This is what Marines mean when we say, Embrace the suck. You dont avoid the hard stuff. You face it, over and over againuntil one day, what used to feel impossible starts to feel like strength. Thats also what grit is. Psychologist Angela Duckworth defines grit as passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Not talent. Not luck. Just the ability to keep goingespecially when its hard, especially when its slow. And thats good news. Because it means anyone can build it.You just have to do the reps. Four Ways to Start Building Strength Today Choose a Meaningful Challenge: Whats one uncomfortable thing youve been avoidingbut know could lead to something great? Dont wait for fear to vanish. Let it guide you. Start Small, Start Now: Dont wait until you feel ready. Take one action todaysend the email, speak up, take the first step. Confidence grows from action. Expect Discomfort: Growth comes with struggle. When it feels hard, thats not failureits progress. That discomfort is where strength is built. Celebrate the Effort: Dont wait for a finish line to feel proud. Acknowledge your consistency and courage. Most people stop when its hard. You wont. A Final Thought The Marine Corps taught me to run toward the hard thingsnot because I was fearless, but because growth lives on the other side of challenge. So the next time youre tempted to take the easy route, ask yourself: Is this my rep today? Is this where I get stronger? If the answer is yeslean in. Do the hard thing. Because comfort doesnt build character. Challenge does.
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Technology can be a double-edged sword. The right amount can fuel productivity, but too much can become a time waste. As with most things, the key is striking a healthy balance. Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against you. Apps and websites are designed to grab and hold your attention. So, how do successful people resist? High-achievers use technology as a tool, not a distraction, says Sachin Puri, chief growth officer at the web-hosting provider Liquid Web. They make productivity apps their first priority, plan for intentional screen time, and select platforms intentionally. They may spend lots of time on screens, but they set boundaries where they need to, so that technology enhances their performance, rather than slowing it down. To determine how high-achievers leverage tech, Liquid Web surveyed six-figure earners who excel in their careers to discover the habits and strategies they use to maximize productivity and minimize time wasting. Here’s what they found: They Are Intentional with Screen Time High-achievers spend an average of seven hours a day on their computers, which is a good chunk of time. However, they are primarily focused on activities that fall under the productivity umbrella, choosing sites that enhance and not hinder their career growth. On average, they also limit phone use to three hours per day on things that could be deemed entertainment. This seems to suggest that they believe all work and no play can make a person dull. High-achievers spend significant time on their screens but with clear intent, says Puri. This contrasts sharply with average Americans, who spend 23% more time on their phones. They Go Tech-free (Sometimes) Forty-four percent of these high-achievers take daily tech breaks to better manage screen time and boost focus and well-being. While this is still the minority, it is a higher number than average Americans, 38% of whom take daily tech-free breaks. They use these breaks with intention, viewing them as a way to reset focus and maintain productivity rather than escape from work, says Puri. Instead of stepping away aimlessly, they use this time strategically to enhance their performance and mental clarity. Tech breaks happen both during and outside work hours, depending on individual routines. For example, some high-performers may take short breaks during the day to sustain productivity, while others may choose to unplug in the evening or on weekends to separate work from personal life. Regardless of timing, the key is using breaks strategically to maintain performance, says Puri. They Choose Tools for Productivity High-achievers also select their tech tools with an eye on efficiency, the survey discovered. For example, two thirds rely on calendar and scheduling tools, and 40% use AI chatbots to stay ahead of deadlines, optimize workflows, automate repetitive tasks, assist with brainstorming new ideas, and summarize lengthy pieces of information. Compared to average Americans, successful individuals were 32% more likely to use calendar and scheduling tools and 11% more likely to rely on AI chatbots to optimize their workflows, says Puri. These tools have enabled them to maintain focus, manage time effectively, and achieve their goals more efficiently. They Focus Their Social Media Habits Finally, high-achievers are mindful of social media. For example, 49% avoid TikTok entirely. Instead, they gravitate toward sites that offer a career-related benefit. Nearly 40% use Reddit as their most popular platform for learning and engagement. Successful people are also much more engaged on LinkedIn. Only 17% of high-achievers said they dont use the professional networking site, compared to 38% of average Americans who arent engaged there. Many high-achievers don’t give up on screens altogetherthey just shift their focus, says Puri. Their social media habits show it, with many opting for interactive, discussion-based apps such as Reddit over passive scroll-based apps such as TikTok. The lesson here is that screen time isnt always a time suck. Its where your attention goes that can help or hinder your success.
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