That's Fit

Some might think fitness isn't a prerequisite for race car driving. I mean, how physically taxing is it to sit behind the wheel and alternately slam on the gas and brake?

Racing is definitely a physically demanding sport, according to racing star Danica Patrick. When asked by a reporter for USA Today if she considers herself an athlete, Patrick says: "Absolutely, I'm an athlete."

If people took a little time to learn what Patrick does, they'd see just how physical her sport it. They'd see what she does to work out too.

Patrick works out daily and balances strength training (especially upper-body work) and stamina and endurance. She uses free weights, runs, and does yoga and pilates.

Clearly, racing isn't for the faint of heart. Driving a go-kart will give you a sense of it, says Patrick, who reports that bruises are a common occupational hazard. And in Indy cars, there's no power steering. "The forces are such that we could drive upside-down," she reports. The cars weigh more than 1,000 pounds."

Says one exercise physiologist at Florida Atlantic University: "Elite drivers have to have a fine-tuned sense of timing and excellent focus so they can anticipate and respond to stimuli ... The heat, the powerful lateral forces on the body and the constant vibrations make for intense stimulation during a race."

Convinced fitness and racing go hand in hand? I am.