For a long time, watching a race was about being at the track and experiencing the roar of the car rolling down the track at breakneck speeds. Indeed, that's what has always made going to races more exciting. But with the advent of television services like digital cable and DirectStarTV, watching races can be nearly as enjoyable from a living room sofa.

These three innovations have helped make watching racing on TV a more enjoyable affair than it was years ago:

Digital Surround Sound

As mentioned, one of the major components of enjoying the race is hearing the aggressive roar of the engines as they come down the track. With digital surround sound, it's not likely that fans watching at home will feel the vibration of the engines as the cars pass by, but the high-quality sound definitely makes the TV-watching experience more realistic. Surround sound is designed to produce realistic portrayals of the on-track action.

High-Definition

High-definition TV is another innovation that's changed the experience of watching races on TV. The crystal-clear images and colours that come through an HD flat-panel model closely resemble the real-live racing action. In fact, better camera angles and views from all around the track mean fans probably get a better view while watching on TV than they could if they attended the race. HDTV has closed the gap between watching racing on TV and actually being at the track.

DVR

With satellite TV service or cable DVR, fans don't ever have to worry about missing any of the action. They can pause the action while they run to restroom or to grab a drink, or they can rewind exciting footage that they just have to see again. With DVR, race fans never miss any of their favourite drivers' moments.
These three innovations have helped make racing more exciting. If you can't make that next circuit, don't sweat it. These days, TV gives you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the action.