IMSA: MSR's Negri keeps the fun in fitness

For Michael Shank Racing driver Ozz Negri, there’s no resting during his time away from the racetrack. The Brazilian IMSA veteran who calls Miami, Fla., home, is constantly training, and he uses triathlons as a way to keep in shape for his IMSA events.

And when asked about his triathlon competitions, Negri tells us that he does them “just for fun” to prepare for his races.

In fact, he competed in a triathlon just a week after competing in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and finished seventh in his age group. And while he may be doing it “just for fun” Negri’s competitive nature can’t help but get the best of him at times.

“I looked at the end results and the timing and if I had just gone three minutes faster, I would have placed fourth!” lamented Negri. “I could have done better on my transitions and shaved some time off.

“I’m always looking at the other competitors’ legs – not in a bad way!” joked Negri. “But I’m looking at their numbers (written on each participant’s legs) and when I see that they’re in my category, it makes me push a little harder.”

Last weekend’s triathlon was a sprint distance, which includes a half-mile swim, 12.4-mile bike ride, and a 3.1-mile run. But Negri’s the first to say he actually enjoys the longer distance triathlons with double the mileage even more. He’s even competed in Ironman events which see competitors swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and finish with a 13.1-mile run for a total of 70.3 miles. 

Negri trains daily and keeps his fitness regimen varied. He trains 1-2 times a week with Everton Oliveira, a trainer who works with both racers and MMA fighters. He rides his bike about 3 times a week, swims when he can, does weight training at the gym every day, and he also does yoga twice a week.

The training with Oliveira is of utmost importance as the goal is to get Negri’s heart rate high and keep it there.

“What we do there is called functional,” said Negri of his training with Oliveira. “We don’t work much with weights. We’ll take my heart rate to the highest possible for the longest time possible. I never rest during it. I work out with Everton (Oliveira) because he understands what I need as a racecar driver. The effort that I put forth in the car. He’s been to the go-kart track with me and he’s even been to some races – Daytona and Sebring. He’s always developing new work outs, no workout is ever the same.”

While yoga may not be considered by some to be a high-intensity, cardio-blasting exercise routine, Negri stresses how important it is to maintaining his top fitness level.

“Yoga is good for so many things,” said Negri. “There are a few poses where I’m shaking and struggling. It helps with equalizing the right side and the left side of the body strength wise. It’s a helpful exercise for when you’re going through corners in a race car. It’s also a lot about balancing and focus. Doing yoga allows you to understand more about what goes on with your body.”

Last year at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Negri faced one of the toughest races of his career when both the power steering and hydration system failed on his No. 60 Honda Ligier JS P2 in some brutally hot weather conditions. The circuit is comprised of extensive, high g-loading turns and long periods of steering, and after being in the car for over two hours, Negri powered through to deliver the Michael Shank Racing team a podium finish.

“I would have never been able to finish the race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park without having done the training that I do,” said Negri. “The training that I do for my shoulders and my arms was most important in that situation. It wasn’t a question of strength, it was just a question of endurance. After the race if you had told me to lift a feather up, I wouldn’t have been able to. Since then, I’ve been training even harder and harder – just in case a circumstance like that happens again!”

Next up on the IMSA calendar for Negri is the 100-minute sprint race BUBBA burger SportsCar Grand Prix at Long Beach, and with the concrete-lined temporary street circuit featuring high speed straights and low-speed corners on the bumpy downtown streets, the drivers will need to be at their prime.

It’s safe to say Negri will be ready.

Source: MSR