Stay Mentally Sharp

It's easy to get out of racing mode in the off season. Finding ways to keep your brain engaged will have you ready when your next race rolls around.

The rest of the world may argue about whether race car drivers are athletes, but if you're reading this, the question is probably settled, You're well aware of the physical aspects of driving a race car for lap, much less 15 laps or a couple of hours during your third stint in the wee hours of the morning.

As physical as racing is, though, it's certainly a mental game as well. While techniques for keeping physically fit over the off-season are fairly well known and perhaps even obvious, exercises for keeping mentally sharp aren't as readily apparent. There are methods to keep the brain in competition mode in the winter months until the next time you pull the belts tight.

"The simulator is a great way to practice and stay sharp," says Mazda SKYACTIV Prototype driver Tom Long. "Beyond that, anything that has to do with reaction times - reaction time games, keeping your senses sharp, things like that."