Physical Fitness and Blood Glucose Influence Performance in IndyCar Racing

Ferguson, DP and Myers, ND. Physical fitness and blood glucose influence performance in IndyCar racing. J Strength Cond Res 32(11): 3193-3206, 2018-Charlie Kimball (CK) is an elite-level IndyCar driver who has type 1 diabetes. Since CK became a full-time competitor, there has been exponential growth in the number of racing drivers competing with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present a case report of data collected on CK over 6 years, to better inform strength and conditioning coaches on how to prepare racing drivers with type 1 diabetes for competition. We hypothesized that the physical requirements to pilot the race car would include an elevated aerobic and glycolytic capacity and that blood glucose would influence key driving parameters (vertical gravitational force [Gz] tolerance and reaction time/response accuracy) related to success (finishing position). Physical fitness was evaluated with a V[Combining Dot Above]O2max test, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition analysis, Wingate power test, and a lower-body negative pressure test for vertical Gz tolerance. To test the role of fitness and blood glucose on driving performance, heart rate (HR), breath rate (BR), and skin temperature (ST) were evaluated during practice racing sessions using the Equivital Life Monitor. Blood glucose was monitored in 47 races using a continuous glucose monitor. Driving a race car resulted in increased HR, BR, and ST. The driver's body composition, skeletal muscle power output, and aerobic capacity values were in the 10th percentile of the average population. A blood glucose range of 100-168 mg·dl was identified as optimal for driving performance for the case study participant because it improved reaction time/response accuracy and Gz tolerance.