“Our drivers are exceptional athletes”: IndyCar Insider shares a glimpse of pre-season fitness testing

While non-racing fans tend to underestimate the physicality involved in driving cars over 200 mph, drivers competing in categories like IndyCar, NASCAR, and F1 are some of the fittest humans on earth. When the wear and tear of the body is such, periodic physical examinations are a must.

IndyCar recently shared a video on YouTube offering a sneak peek into what pre-season physical testing looks like. Dr Julia Vaizer, the Medical Director of IndyCar and an IU Health Emergency Medicine Physician, explained the medical screening exam for IndyCar and Indy NXT drivers comprehensively.

"Our drivers are exceptional athletes. But you know, everybody needs to have a good annual physical exam," she said as a doctor conducted a mock exam in the background. "We're making sure we're listening to their lungs. We're making sure that we're listening to their heart and trying to pick up no murmurs or anything else unusual." [0:29 onwards]

As Vaizer explained, the exam also included testing the driver's eye coordination, sensation, strength, reflexes, and stability. She also emphasized how the doctors build close relationships with the drivers to maintain the right and latest record.

"Every patient is different and we wanna make sure we get to know our drivers ourselves," Vaizer added (1:50).

Compared to F1 and NASCAR, IndyCar drivers have a more challenging time physically because of the absence of power steering, which puts about 25-30 pounds of additional stress on their arms.

Last month, 2x IndyCar champ and 2x Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden opened up on how he managed his fitness to keep up with the rigorous demands of the sport.

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Josef Newgarden discussed his approach on maintaining peak fitness to compete in IndyCar

For any athlete, if their physical fitness isn't up to the mark, their mental game cannot elevate. Josef Newgarden, who has conquered the sport's biggest prizes, lives by this. The 33-year-old is one of the fittest drivers on the grid and uses the 80-20 rule to monitor his efforts.

"I go by the 80-percent rule. If I’m hitting my goals 80 percent of the time, then it’s okay if I slack off a little," Newgarden said (via Barbend).

However, the prep isn't as straightforward. He cannot keep packing more muscle because he has to weigh less than 185 pounds in time for the season opener.

"I can’t weigh over 185 when I start the year. That’s because all IndyCars are balanced for their drivers to weigh 185 pounds or less. If the driver weighs less, ballast weight is added to bring the total up to 185. So if a driver tips the scales at 150, 35 pounds are added to the cockpit. But if he weighs more, I’d basically be taking a weight penalty," he added.

Like any other athlete, Newgarden also tracks his protein intake to ensure he doesn't lose muscle mass throughout the year. Some exercises in his workout directly mirror the action he performs on track - like doing shoulder rotations with a 45-pound plate to make steering during a race easier.

Furthermore, the No. 2 Team Penske driver gives equal importance to recovery, with Yoga, cold plunges, and using an infrared sauna becoming his priority during the breaks between races.