At 5’2” and 105 pounds, Danica is the smallest of the Indy drivers. In a sport where the lighter your load, the faster your speed, you’d think she’d have an advantage. Not so, says Danica.
“I have to work harder than those bigger guys to control my car.”
To maintain her strength-—not to mention her endurance for those five-hour races—Danica works out almost every day. She keeps her routine fresh by changing it up twice a year. During race season, which goes from April to September, she runs for an hour every day, then concentrates on upper body exercises that strengthen her shoulders, forearms, and back—moves essential for handling her 1,500-pound vehicle.
To stay strong but sculpted during the off-season, she works with a trainer. Just as important as exercise, though, is taking a break. “I skip days here and there and don’t beat myself up for it,” she says. “My husband always reminds me to let my body rest.”
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She starts every morning with a three-egg-white omelet and a bowl of homemade oatmeal with cinnamon, flax meal, brown sugar, and a scoop of peanut butter on the side.
For lunch she prefers open-face turkey sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, mustard, and sometimes a slice of cheese. “I get hungry every three hours, so I also like to munch on an apple or whole-wheat toast with peanut butter,”
