Yep Mak- timing chips are the norm. We wear them on our ankles. There are timing mats throughout the course that record your time when you cross them. If you go on www.ironmanlive.com and click on the Louisville race banner, and then track an athlete, a box will pop up to enter the bib # enter bib 1539- or any random bib #. but then you will see what I mean. It has all the times posted.
I think once you finish the lag time is about 10-15 minutes before it hits the website. It's a very cool feature, and a great way to track your athlete from home. Besides the handy live web cam of course.

Hmmm... I may consider LOU in a couple of years, tho I'm not crazy about swimming in slime. But really the course isn't hilly? I had read recon reports from people training for it saying it was going to be hilly??
I think the humidity might do me in tho! Remember I'm a desert dweller. I thrive in 10% humidity.