When you watch an IndyCar race, you see one driver in a helmet. But behind that helmet are 40 mechanics, engineers, and strategists. If you want to be a driver, you have to be a great teammate.
You need to be easy to work with. Nobody wants to help a driver who yells at them for a bad pit stop. Be the person who brings donuts to the garage. Be grateful. Be likeable.
How To Become An Indy Car Driver | Detroit Chinatown
Because in a race, when the fuel strategy gets tight, the team will fight harder for a driver they like. It’s like when your friend drives you to the airport at 5 AM because you’re a good person. Same principle, different gear.
Your Daily Life Training Ground
You don’t need a race car to practice. You can practice being alert while driving your minivan to the grocery store. Notice the car two lanes over. Predict what it will do next. That’s racecraft.
You can also do reaction drills at home. Have a friend clap randomly, and you try to slap a tennis ball off a table. This builds your reflexes. It sounds silly, but it works.
And finally, get in shape. Real shape. Drivers lose five pounds of water weight in a single race from sweat. Your neck muscles need to be strong enough to withstand 5Gs of force. Start doing neck stretches—you’ll look strange at the gym, but you’ll be ready.
