Don't laugh. Someone mentioned it earlier, but most people that don't really follow the sport, don't realize that race car drivers are very tough athletes. Don't get me wrong, NASCAR drivers have to be tough but I'm specifically talking about open wheel series, and Indy car drivers. They drive ovals with tremendous g-forces, their heart rate stays up at a rate of a runner for at least 2 hours, unless there's a yellow or red flag they get no breaks, no timeouts. They don't have power steering and brakes. In our Open Wheel Racing series (formerly known as CART - Championship Auto Racing Teams, aka Michael and Mario Andretti racing) they drive ovals at speeds well over 200 mph, permanent road courses where they feel every elevation change, and temporary street courses where they manually shift hundreds of times over the course of the race. Then there's the mental aspect. They have to read all the equipment on their "dashboard" which is very intriquate (I know because I've gotten to sit in one), communicate with their team about strategy and pitstops via radio, and drive at that speed where there can be no mental errors from them or the drivers around them because one lapse in judgement can cause serious injury and yes death. I know other sports are very tough physically and there is a chance of death from a freak injury but the chances are a lot less. Race car drivers, most of whom have raced in races where their friends were seriously hurt or died have to strap themselves in knowing that there is always that chance. My dh, kids and I had a lovely conversation with a racecar driver that we knew by the name of Greg Moore who 2 weeks later (to the day) we watched get killed on national t.v. on a high speed oval in California. And during an oval race in Germany in 1991 just about 4 days after 9/11 they decided to go on with the race and dedicate it to the victims and families. A driver who was very dear to us and with us and that we have known well by the name of Alex Zanardi was leading the race with only 13 laps left when he had to make a short pitstop. He came back out and was trying to get out as fast as he could but the exit of pitlane was wet and slippery and he slid over some "rumble strips" which are like little curbs to see the boundaries of pit exit. He bounced over them and it caused his car to stall as he spun out onto the middle of the track. Well, along came cars going 195 mph if not more and they tried to dodge him but one hit him and it sheared the whole front of the car off including his legs to above the knee. He lost so much blood and he was so near death it is a miracle that he survived. But he did. And after months in the hospital his request to his wife was that they get him a hand controlled car so he could drive himself home from the hospital which he did. 2 years after his accident at the same track he had been injured, they fitted a race car, with same horsepower as all the drivers have but with hand controls and before the start of the race they had a big ceremony and he got in the car and did the 13 laps that he missed on the day of his accident. He drove so fast that if he had actually been qualifying for the race he would have been in 3rd spot!!! There wasn't a dry eye from anyone who saw it. Now he is racing touring cars in Europe since his home is in Italy. All using hand controls. Now you see why I think drivers are tough. Sorry this was so long.
