GM Racing's new IndyCar command centre

On the highway, the trailer measures 13ft 6in tall and 102in wide, allowing it to pass easily through tunnels and beneath bridges. On site at IRL events, a hydraulic system expands the trailer to a height of 17ft and a width of 150in, providing 1000sq.ft of interior space. GM Racing says that it requires less space and has lower operating costs than the multiple trailers used by the other engine manufacturers.

"GM Racing's engineering support has expanded dramatically in 2004 with new services for teams using the Chevy Indy V-8 engines," said GM Powertrain IRL programme manager Dennis Weglarz. "There was a real need for more workspace, but we wanted to come up with a more innovative solution that simply parking more trailers in the already crowded pits. The new two-storey trackside support centre achieves this goal efficiently and effectively."

The ground floor of the trailer contains workstations for 15 support personnel, all linked through a local area network. There is storage for four race engines, tool cabinets, workbenches, a kitchen and a lavatory. A staircase at the front of the trailer leads to the GM Racing Communications trackside office and a second workroom on the upper level with six workstations and a 12-seat conference room. Fully enclosed with glass windows, the upper level provides a panoramic view of the track. A satellite dish, weather station and UHF radio antenna are mounted on the roof.

"While some people might think that a two-storey trailer is a luxury, the project was really driven by efficiency," said Weglarz. "The expanding trailer is actually less expensive than two comparable conventional trailers. It requires only one truck and one driver, so the over-the-road costs are reduced. At GM Racing, we strive to spend every dollar wisely. We decided that we could best serve the Chevy teams, who are our customers at the track, if we had a single trailer that was large enough to house our entire trackside engineering support staff in one location.

"We have technical partners around the world working together on the Chevy Indy V-8 engine programme. Through the satellite dish, we have a high-speed data link with Detroit, England and Europe. Using the onboard weather station and a system of pagers, all of the Chevy teams, engineers and trackside technicians have access to the same accurate weather information in real-time. That's important not only for the calibration of the engines, but also for tuning the aerodynamics of the racecars. The trailer also has a radio repeater that ensures dependable communications throughout the track."

GM Racing's engineering focus at the race track is on electronics and software. The trailer is outfitted with a vehicle simulator that allows engineers to develop new algorithms and test calibrations for the Chevy Indy V-8's electronic engine management system before putting them in the racecar.

The trailer is hauled by a T-2000 Kenworth tractor with a 15.2-litre, 550hp diesel engine. The combined towing weight is 80,000lb.