This season marks the full implementation of the new Hawkeye inspection system in NASCAR.
The camera-based inspection station replaces the old laser inspection station and the claw template station teams had to pass through before and after races.
NASCAR has released the above video detailing what goes into the new process.
When a car is subjected to the process, it is scrutinized by eight projectors and 17 cameras. One of the cameras is beneath the car.
The projectors will display patterns of lights, lines and dots on the cars that the cameras will track.
The process will take roughly 30 seconds to complete.
During the 30 seconds, the cameras have captured enough data to create a “point cloud,” which makes a 3D model of the car. That is then compared to the CAD model of the car to determine how far away the car is from the tolerance.
Teams will be given a .150-inch tolerance on metal surfaces and a .200-inch tolerance on glass surfaces.
In the video, John Probst, NASCAR’s managing director of competition and innovation, says teams will not be allowed on track to practice until they’ve passed the Hawk-Eye system.
If for some reason the system were to fail and could not be used, the old LIS and template system would be used.
