car racing?

Question

I'm just gonna ask, as an athletic person, how in the heck is racing a car considered a sport. Don't hate, I just want an opinion.

yes i understand they race to be the fastest. duh, but come on, what muscle do you need to run a car?

Answer 1

You use your whole body!!!--3 and 4 hour races in 95-100 degree heat Air Temperature--Inside the car about 115-120 degrees -While you ar inside a 3 layered Fire Proof suit and Helmet. An average driver will sweat out 6-9 pounds per race under these conditions. Plus the Mental strain of staying focused this long at 185 MPH knowing 1 slip and its wreck city. Your arms get a work out on the steering wheel--Your neck from the G force in the corners-- Your legs from clutching-braking-working the gas pedal. These are just a few reasons why they are considered Athletes and train to stay in top Physical Condition!!!!

Answer 2

Racing is very demanding on the body. You need good upper body strength to be able to hold on to the car during a race at the speeds they run. In the turns they can pull up to 3gs. Eye hand coordination is at a premium when you are covering the length of a football field a second. In the summer races the drivers can lose up to ten pounds during the race, the cabin can get up to 140 degrees if not more.
It really is harder than just sitting in the car and driving like we are used to. That perception of ease, to me ,is the problem most non- fans have a hard time getting over. Yes they are athletes, most have rigorous workout programs and fairly strict dietary regimes.
If you have been unfortunate enough to have experienced an auto accident and have felt the impact, just imagine the impact at 180 mph. Then imgine get ting out of the car and give an interview.
yep it is a sport done by athletes

Answer 3

Stamina is the most important thing for the driver. A driver has to be in good enough shape to withstand a constant 3 g's pulling his head to the right, withstand temperatures up to 140 deg F inside the car, and still be able to keep his awareness sharp and his reactions quick. The pit crew has to be athletic in order to handle the heavy tires, jacks, and fuel cans, and has to be very accurate as well as quick.
Sport means competition as well as athletic prowess, and competition gets no more intense anywhere else but on the race track.
Take a look at Carl Edwards or Mark Martin and tell me they aren't athletes.
Hope this answers your question.

Answer 4

About the only way I know to tell you is get some friends and go to a go kart track and race each other. Not for fun really race go as fast as you can around every corner down every short straight and see if you are not winded when your done. Do that for 2 or 3 hours and imagine being in around 100+ degrees of heat breathing carbon monoxide air.
I guess the G force's they with stand is real demanding to is why they need to be in such good shape.
The F1 drivers are all able to run marathons they are in that good of shape.

Answer 5

I answered this one a few posts ago, but cant resist answering it again. Take your care out to a track, drive it at 180+ mph for 3 hours, then tell me it doesn't take athletic ability. not to mention its about the only sport where one mistake could cost you your life. It takes an incredible amount of strength and skill to hold a care on a track at those speeds, and not hit either the wall or the car next to you. Same as with anything else on television, if you don't like it, change the channel.

Answer 6

Sport: (n) - an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

Physical prowess. You've got to be pretty fit to be able to withstand the G-force and the high temperatures that they withstand for hours on end. And not to mention how competitive NASCAR is. Is there another sport that is this competitive? I can't think of one.

Answer 7

much like i dont consider golf a sport, or basketball, its in the opinion, racing is a sport to me...dont see too many that can drive a car that fast and not slam into all the others on the track and the walls for that length of time

Answer 8

Try driving 500 miles at up to 200mph inches away from up to 43 other drivers on various degrees of banking. Until you try it, you'll probably never believe it. GO to the petty school sometime and try a few laps. I always thought it was a sport and confirmed it when I tried it....Harder than football and soccer and yes, I have done both.

Answer 9

Tell me why golfing is a sport but auto racing isn't.

Auto racing is one of the most mentally and physically draining things you could possibly do, thats why I consider it a sport, you have to be aware of what you're doing for every second the race is going on.

Answer 10

1. Most of the time, it's really hot in there.
2. It's hard to explain until you feel how much you need to use your muscles to keep your eyes ahead. Flatter circuits can be much harder in this way.
3. Imagine taking a super important 2 hour test. You are way more tired than that at the end.