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. The weather data is overlaid ontop of a GPS map, which then can be viewed in multiple formats. As a result, AGR can adjust downforce, tune the engine, adjust gear ratios, and plan a more informed tire strategy based of various weather data.

"With weather forecast to be a major factor in this year's Indy 500, we're happy to have XM Weather technology available as an additional strategic tool," said Kim Green, co-owner, Andretti Green Racing. "Racing is both science and art, and successful racing requires the absolute best combination of both."

And this same style of continuously updated weather info will soon be available to us everyday folks (in both GPS nav systems as well as in personal handheld form).

"XM is offering the first system that alerts you to real-time weather threats on the road ahead," said Stuart Cox, senior vice president, advanced applications, XM. "You're not just getting the temperature and the forecast for a city. You get the weather that will impact your specific journey, and this information is constantly being updated."

[WhoWon]
Thanks Matt!