Self-driving cars will hit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a landmark A.I. race

Next year, a squad of souped-up Dallara race cars will reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour as they zoom around the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discover whether a computer could be the next Mario Andretti. The planned Indy Autonomous Challenge--taking place in October 2021 in Indianapolis--is intended for 31 university computer science and engineering teams to push the limits of current self-driving car technology. There will be no human racers sitting inside the cramped cockpits of the Dallara IL-15 race cars. Instead, onboard computer systems will take their place, outfitted with deep-learning software enabling the vehicles to drive themselves. In order to win, a team's autonomous car must be able to complete 20 laps--which equates to a little less than 50 miles in distance--and cross the finish line first in 25 minutes or less.