Fit to Drive: Cycling, Running, Kayaking ? Even Pilates ? Keep These Drivers on the Track

By Roberta Macinnis, Houston Chronicle

May 11–You’d expect to see a Grand Prix race-car driver on the front of a Wheaties box. But how about in the pages of Pilates Style magazine?

Bruno Junqueira, a top driver on the Champ Car World Series circuit who was featured in the January/February issue, took up Pilates nearly three years ago. After he broke two vertebrae in an accident during the Indianapolis 500 in May, his doctor said Junqueira’s core muscles — which Pilates develops — not only helped him recover more quickly but also prevented him from being more severely injured in the first place.

Junqueira is part of the current generation of race-car drivers who consider physical fitness a crucial component of their job performance. They call themselves professional athletes and train accordingly — cycling, running, swimming and lifting weights to prepare for the rigors of the racetrack.

“People think that racing is not hard because they can drive their car from Houston to Dallas in four or five hours and don’t get tired and don’t break a sweat,” Junqueira says. “So they think, ‘How do guys spend two hours in a car and get a workout?’ “

Take a 1.7-mile course where the average speed of the 115 laps will be 123 mph. Include more than 1,035 turns that will require the driver to shift about 3,300 times and will produce an average 2.7 G’s of lateral force on the driver because the car has been designed to create “downforce” (the reverse of lift on an airplane) to keep it on the track as it corners. Subtract power steering and air conditioning. Hold the race — during which the driver will wear flame-resistant long underwear, head sock and driver’s suit as well as a 7-pound helmet — on a hot summer day.

That’s how.

“It’s a challenge,” says Sebastien Bourdais, Champ Car World Series champion for the past two years. “You turn right; your head wants to go left. The change of direction is very violent. It’s extremely hard on the body. You’re trying to hold yourself in a position that all the forces are pulling against.”

Bourdais, who lives on the water in Tampa, Fla., recently incorporated kayaking into his exercise routine. He paddles several times a week for hours at a time and includes interval training — shorter sprints with faster paddling — into some rides. He cycles twice a week and hits the gym, even though he considers weight training a chore. He also runs, though not as much as he used to, since Claire Ragot, his wife of less than week, no longer trains with the University of South Florida’s track team.

“Being able to drive the car for two hours flat out without having to get fatigued, that’s what we’re aiming for,” Bourdais says.

“There is no way they could compete at this level (without being fit). We definitely encourage them to work out,” says Kathi Lauterbach, spokeswoman for Newman/Haas Racing, Junqueira and Bourdais’ team.

“Cars are now harder to drive, so a lot of drivers are trying to get fitter and fitter and fitter to improve their success,” says Alex Tagliani, who drives for Team Australia Racing.

“The differences between the cars and the drivers are so small, every advantage is so important,” he says.

Tagliani, who lives in Las Vegas, cycles more than 30 miles every day, lifts weights several times a week and runs or swims most days. Once or twice a week he’ll do a run-cycle-run or swim-cycle-swim workout. His wife, Bronte Tagliani, is also his personal trainer.

“When you choose your training, you have to keep in mind the driving,” Tagliani says. Since he is short, his seat must be close to the pedals, so his lower back absorbs more of the force when he brakes. He says biking strengthens those muscles. He often runs in sweat pants and a rubber shirt on 110-degree days to mimic race conditions.

While upper body strength is important, drivers must be careful not to bulk up too much. As with jockeys, being small is an advantage, although most drivers have large necks for their size. They also avoid running too much to protect their knees.

Being fit also helps mentally, the drivers agree.

“Basically you need to be 100 percent physically so your concentration is not affected by fatigue,” Bourdais explains.

“If you are really fit, you can concentrate mentally,” Junqueira agrees. “You have to have the feeling of the car. To have that feeling and push hard every lap, you have to be well-prepared.

“What’s funny is racing isn’t a sport where the fittest wins — it comes from the mental side. But you have to have that level of fitness real, real high to complete the race at the highest level.”

roberta.macinnis@chron.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Houston Chronicle

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