I want to know are their any althletic skills involved in being a race-car driver? How much of an athelete is a NEXTEL CUP driver compared to an MLB or NBA player?

uh

ever driven a manuel? shfting like they do takes skill, the same kind of skill it takes to shoot a free through and make it 85% of the time

except when they shift gears, it has to shift 100% of the time.

and, thik abou f1 drivers. there going over 200 mph sometimes, and they aint going in a stright line. keeping those light weight cars on the ground, going through the worcener they go through, at the speeds they do it in, i call that skill

It's mainly the heat, but drag racers and indy car racers need to be strong.

They have to have incredible endurance and fitness. Up there if not beyond most other athletes. Consider that they race for several hours in fire proof suits, racing suits over the top and a helmet then consider the cabin temperatures in most race cars is upward of 50degrees celcius and you get why they are so athletic.

They have to have incredible endurance and fitness. Up there if not beyond most other athletes. Consider that they race for several hours in fire proof suits, racing suits over the top and a helmet then consider the cabin temperatures in most race cars is upward of 50degrees celcius and you get why they are so athletic.I wouldnt say they need more endurnance and fitness than other athletes...The need muscle endurance but not cardiac endurance...it is definantly challenging but not as challenging as other sports but you need to be in shape...

Go do some laps in a racing suit and fireproof suit with a helmet on then come tell me.

I guarantee you will change your mind, Its impossibley hard to keep yourself going when you feel like you are going to pass out from the heat which is one of the reasons I have not gone to the track in recent times simply because I couldnt cope with the heat and the heat endurance that you need. I manage fine with every sport.

that's exactly what i mean I believe that they way way fitter than average blokes but are nothing in terms of athletic capability compared to say a Thierry Henry or a Lebron James. I mean as much as I may root for a certain driver and may think the drivr is the most important stuff - I wouldn't for the life of me would see a half-marathon between Villneuve and Schumacher

Go do some laps in a racing suit and fireproof suit with a helmet on then come tell me.

I guarantee you will change your mind, Its impossibley hard to keep yourself going when you feel like you are going to pass out from the heat which is one of the reasons I have not gone to the track in recent times simply because I couldnt cope with the heat and the heat endurance that you need. I manage fine with every sport.

If you talk about heat How about the fast bowlers in cricket who hurtle down 90mph balls 200 times a day in 40 degree South Asian stadiums?? I bet they have as much heat endurance capabilities as the top racers- not to mention better physical fitness

I am doubtful most drivers would be able to run marathons as quick as marathon runners because that is not their field. But I am also doubful that Thierry Henry could Suit up and race around a circuit for several hours using all of his concentration to avoid crashing and potentially killing himself.

They are hard things to compare so unless you do both it is quite hard to compare them.

Go do some laps in a racing suit and fireproof suit with a helmet on then come tell me.

I guarantee you will change your mind, Its impossibley hard to keep yourself going when you feel like you are going to pass out from the heat which is one of the reasons I have not gone to the track in recent times simply because I couldnt cope with the heat and the heat endurance that you need. I manage fine with every sport.Trust me...I have first hand expirences when it comes to passing out with heat...I know exactly what it's like...

In racing you need mucle enduance...In the sports I do you need more cardiac endurnace than in racing in addition to some muscle endurance...I can safely say that to play the sports I play you need to be more of an athlete than a racecar driver does although they also need to be athletes...

Race car drivers are just like every athlete out there. I have a bit of knowledge on this because my dad used to compete in the SCCA. First of all, they need to lift weights so they can keep up with lots of repetitions as far as your shoulders go from turning left to right. Secondly, the also have to do a balance training to help them tighten down and stabilize especially on the corners. Last thing that I could think of is their reaction training. As far as these drivers go, their worst enemy is exhaustion from heat.

There is passing out with heat , of which I have done before when we went camping in the desert for a week last year and then there is heat plus thick clothing which doesnt allow your skin to breathe much and you feel like you are suffocating.

Like I said you cant really compare them, you need both cardiac and muscle endurance for both motorsport and field sport.

There is passing out with heat , of which I have done before when we went camping in the desert for a week last year and then there is heat plus thick clothing which doesnt allow your skin to breathe much and you feel like you are suffocating.

Like I said you cant really compare them, you need both cardiac and muscle endurance for both motorsport and field sport.I'm talking about the latter: heat + thick clothing (5+ layers) + working out + not drinking liquids....I think it's rougher than what the race car driver have to go though...


I think that racecar driver will need more muscle enduance than cardiac...yes they need cardiac too but IMO muscle is more imporant...

I'm talking about the latter: heat + thick clothing (5+ layers) + working out + not drinking liquids....I think it's rougher than what the race car driver have to go though...


You have lost me here. If you think there is much rougher than wearing thick clothing having minimal liquids and being subject to a poorly aired cabin with a high temperature there is something going on there. I cant think of any other sport where an athlete has to endure these sorts of conditions.

I am not debating you on the cardiac vs muscle endurance part, I agree with you there.

After reading the previous posts of this thread I was disappointed and kind of ticked off. This pisses me off every time someone questions the athleticity of a racecar driver.

First of all Car Buff, check your PM box.

Second I felt as if the thread starter was placing NEXTEL Cup drivers as comparisons to other athletes as an insult, drivers overall should have been considered.

Look at Bristol tonight no rest for them at all.

Look at F1, ALMS, WRC, Grand-Am and then NASCAR, and tell me those guys don't do workouts every time they step into the car.

Drivers loose up to 5-10 lb in water every race in NASCAR at least, in other sports it varies.

The legs dance around the clutch, brake, and accelerator pedal all day long. (except when clutch is not available).

The arms work extra hard to control these vehicles and the hands just blister like nuts trying to hang on.

Your upperbody is used all the time to control your arms.

The neck needs to be steel(especially in F1) to withstand G-forces.

The mental part of the sport exceeds any other. Your feelings need to be controlled, your patience, your nerves can crumble, plus the fear can destroy you inside.

cardio is off the charts, tell me your heart doesn't beat like nuts going 180 mph on average.

Your body needs to withstand exhaustion and you are simulating a pot roast, while you roast in an oven-like car.

Your hearing is strained trying to hear your crew and your eyes have to literally be open non-stop. No blinking(at times)

You must withstand crashes too.

Drivers are the ultimate example of a strong athlete. Some drivers workout more than others, (Tony Stewart great example compared to Carl Edwards), but they all need healthy bodies.

You have lost me here. If you think there is much rougher than wearing thick clothing having minimal liquids and being subject to a poorly aired cabin with a high temperature there is something going on there. I cant think of any other sport where an athlete has to endure these sorts of conditions.

I am not debating you on the cardiac vs muscle endurance part, I agree with you there.For my sport I have to put on a rubber suit...this suit is designed to trap you body heat and not let any escape...I put it on for 2 minutes and start sweating...

I wear that plus 3 or 4 other layers of winter clothes with a winter hat...I go into a sauna and work out...these temperatures in the sauna can get to be over 165F (74C). In here I do sprints, jumping jacks , push ups and so on...

And hour and a half later when I am done I get thirsty but you know what? I dont drink anything. Instead I chew thirst quenching gum for a couple minutes and then get on with my life...

Try doing that and then tell me it's easier than being a racecar driver...

You could have just said that in the first place instead of assuming I knew what you were talking about. 50 degrees celcius in a cabin is a good temperature for racing in they get up to 80 degrees celcius during racing. Steve Owen passed out earlier this year at the Clipsal 500 and his cabin temperature was measured at 77degrees celcius, when the ambulane officers measured his body temperature it was 46 degrees celcius nearly 10 degrees above the average temperature that is recommended for humans.

It fine to say you wear a stack of clothing, fireproof suits are far worst for generating bodyheat than rubbersuits. Trust me I used to train in a rubbersuit 3 times a week and while they were designed for trapping bodyheat they dont work like a fireproof suit.

well i think you have to be pretty fit to take all that cornering force

btw if his body temperature was that high wouldnt his organs all burn and kill him

He wasnt far off of dead. He passed out and kept on relapsing back in to consciousness and finally crashed in to a wall, medical officers attended to him and took him straight to hospital. He was inhospital for 3 weeks.

Lucky to be alive.

The only people in the world who are more fit than F1 race car drivers are fighter pilots.

Think about it, and then relate it to like, MLB, and soccer.

The only people in the world who are more fit than F1 race car drivers are fighter pilots.

Think about it, and then relate it to like, MLB, and soccer.No way are fighter pilots the most fit in the world and F1 drivers second...yea both of them are fit bit no where near the most fit in the world...

By all means, pick another type of person.

Aside from the career military elite units, there are few sportstars that could run for 20 miles with 120 lbs on their back non stop, or pull 8+ g's in dogfighting turns, plus deal with negative g-loads, as well as a host of instrument panels, warnings, and attempt to keep calm whilst doing it.

Though Lance Armstrong definitely gets close to "the most fit" outside of a car in my opinion.

By all means, pick another type of person.

Aside from the career military elite units, there are few sportstars that could run for 20 miles with 120 lbs on their back non stop, or pull 8+ g's in dogfighting turns, plus deal with negative g-loads, as well as a host of instrument panels, warnings, and attempt to keep calm whilst doing it.

Though Lance Armstrong definitely gets close to "the most fit" outside of a car in my opinion.Well is was thinking of military elite unit like Navy SEALs and Marine...but there are also the triathlon competitors...they are pretty damn fit...

As for Marines and SEALS, they don't put themselves through high-g manuevers on an hourly basis.

Then again, that's also what I meant. =P

I have heard the F1 drivers have some of the strongest necks in the world because of all the G-Forces they endure. Look at Alonso's neck next time he's doing an interview in normal clothes, its huge.

Also, I dont know how well you follow F1, but one of the races a few weeks ago... maybe Indy... when Schumacher and Massa had that 1-2 win, right after they pulled into the winner's circle and got out of the cars, Schumacher picked up Massa and threw him into the air like it was nothing. Then you hear the commentators start talking about how Michael will win an F1 race on Sunday and be on the bike Monday so he can keep in shape.

Before the Malaysia race this year the teams shipped their drivers down 2 weeks early just so they could train on the beachs in the heat so they would be ready for the race. 2 weeks is a lot of training. F1 teams dont mess around, theres a lot of money invested, they want their drivers in tip-top shape.

Edit- I forgot to talk about WRC drivers. Someone briefly mentioned them a couple posts back. I think that WRC drivers are the most underrated drivers in the world. I mean they can make a car move like its an extention of their bodies.... even more so than other drivers. You have to remember these guys dont get practice laps or qualifying laps or any time to really get out there and asses the "track" before they race. These guys work harder than any other driver out there. Roads are usually less than smooth and many times they are in the air, which is kind of a rough thing if you've ever been airborn in a car before.

WRC drivers get whipped and thrown and beat all around the insides of those cars. And you have to remember the #1 phrase of rally racing, "Its not if you crash, its when". I would have to say that WRC drivers are some of the most athletic people in the world of competetive sports.

I drove a Formula 2000 car over this summer for about 30 minutes (not all at once, it was spread out into 3 sessions during one day). And when I was done driving it, I was sore. My legs had been banging all around the inside of the car and when I got home that night I couldnt figure out why the sides of my legs hurt... Until I remembered driving that day. Furthermore, I could feel it in my neck a little. I knew I had made it sore from driving the way I did.

So I give major credit to all racecar drivers for being extremely athletic.

I would say racers are way up there in terms of fitness.
Take F1 fior example, for over an hour your pretty much always above 100Kph, lots of tight turns, sometimes with 6 other people around you going around the same speed, take the turn right after the straight on the first or second lap. Lots of people slowing down at different rates then speeding up all wanting to be on the racing line. You have to pull masiive G's wile making sure you don't touch at all, if you do your out of the race. You only have less than a litre of water for that hour and by the end of it if your not dead set on the racing line your going to spin or lose whole seconds off your lap.
In Le man its th same story except for 12 hours and very little sleep.
In V8 Supercars you can have 10 other cars around you at any time of the race again going pretty damn fast. In some places there can be 40+ degree heat outside with very little ventilation.
One racer (I forgot his name) lost a windcreen at the start of a race, instead of going to the pits for a new one he smashed the one in the back to keep the air flowwing. It later got very cold and started raining. I mean really cold, it was on a mountain.

In V8 Supercars you can have 10 other cars around you at any time of the race again going pretty damn fast. In some places there can be 40+ degree heat outside with very little ventilation.
One racer (I forgot his name) lost a windcreen at the start of a race, instead of going to the pits for a new one he smashed the one in the back to keep the air flowwing. It later got very cold and started raining. I mean really cold, it was on a mountain.

Craig Lowndes, He wasnt able to continue racing unless he removed his rear windscreen because it would have been blown out and caused a hazard.

Craig Lowndes, He wasnt able to continue racing unless he removed his rear windscreen because it would have been blown out and caused a hazard.
Thanks, I was never really into V8's but they looked pretty intrasting now.
Better than British Touring car chanps.

I think it is in this way
Sportsmen
- Need a lot of training
- Bodybuilder
Race Car Driver
- Mountains of Talent
- Luck
- Effort in learning

Anyone agrees with me ?

Top Fuel pilots in NHRA drag racing actually endure both +/- G's = to a fighter pilot and in excess of that which an astronaut faces. They launch harder than a fighter jet from an aircraft carrier catapault (8+G's 0-100mph in less than .9 seconds). 0-335mph and back to 0(effectively) in less than 7 seconds, approaching -10G's when both of the old style parachutes deployed simultaneously(enough that many drivers suffered detached retinas and temporary blindness prior to the redesign and staggered deployment of the modern day chutes. They survive higher G force crashes, frequent catastrophic engine/vehicle fires and explosions all in a car that weighs about the same as an F1 car but contains 10 TIMES more horsepower.

2003 F1 CAR
0 - 100mph 3.7secs or less.
0 - 100mph and back to zero in 4 secs

Cart/Indycar drivers were passing out @ the Texas Motorplex when speeds in excess of 228mph were combined with the high banking subjected them to enough G's to cause the blood in their heads to be forced to the right hemisphere resulting in blackouts/severe crashes.

Some athletes might have more STAMINA, but it doesn't necessarily = a higher level of fitness.

The only people in the world who are more fit than F1 race car drivers are fighter pilots.

Think about it, and then relate it to like, MLB, and soccer.

Listen to Ghalos - he's dead right. The human body was not meant to withstand the g-forces these guys go through. You need muscles like a rugby player to hold your head up against a couple of g, not just once, but for 70 laps.

I wouldnt say they need more endurnance and fitness than other athletes...The need muscle endurance but not cardiac endurance...it is definantly challenging but not as challenging as other sports but you need to be in shape...

They need an ENORMOUS amount of cardiac endurance. Their hearts need to pump blood against several g's down to their feet and up to their head for long periods of time.

Fighter pilots are even more hardcore, because not only do they go much faster, but also upside down, and they fight in life and death situations.

There is no fitter, no more versatile or mentally capable human being than a good fighter pilot.

There's a pretty good episode of 5th Gear where Tiff goes through F1 driver training - it was pretty intense. There is also some information on the Formula One official website. (http://www.formula1.com/insight/technicalinfo/11/980.html)

I just can't believe that a top-league race-car driver is fitter than a rugby union player

I CAN believe that juggernaut is ignorant.

Does a rugby player maintain a pulse rate of 170-180 for 2 hours almost continuously. I don't think so.

A US pro football player works 12-13 minutes of 1 hour regulation play spread over 3+/- hours.

I CAN believe that juggernaut is ignorant.

Does a rugby player maintain a pulse rate of 170-180 for 2 hours almost continuously. I don't think so.

A US pro football player works 12-13 minutes of 1 hour regulation play spread over 3+/- hours.

Too right... some sportsmen are trained to release their fitness and mental abilities in short bursts i.e. gridiron - baseball - football - basketball - soccer.

Motorsportsmen are trained to release their fitness and mental abilities all at once...for a number of hours on end...in sweltering heat...in a cramped space...with 3/4 layers of clothing on...whilst being totally aware of everything around them...and responding and reporting to their crew chief...and thinking about what they will have for dinner that night.

Are race car drivers athletes? Bloodyoath. You do 300 laps around Martinsville Speedway and tell me you wouldn't feel like dying on the spot.

indy car yes....top fuel/funny guys yes....that is alot of G's and stress on the body....and althrough in the drag side of things all ya gotta be is well "tough" and not really in shape..the indy car guys and everything in that aspect of racing does require alot of stamina...

think about riding a Quad in the desert...it doesn't seem like much work...but after an hour...everything burns

I knew a driver that ran in the middle of the day in 110 degree temperatures, after his weight training. He was trying to develop a tolerance for the heat