The Health Risks of Driving Racecars

By: Mr. Ilan Leff

The Health Risks of Driving Racecars 

In the words of former American racecar driver, Charlie Kimball, “Gone are the days when you could lie on a beach in between races and still be in good enough shape to compete” (Ferguson 2019). Racecar drivers go through immense physical and mental stress, leaving a long-lasting effect on their health. Ferguson continues by writing about how society holds drivers to such high expectations, so they feel urged to constantly condition themselves and overlook injuries that get in the way of their careers. The problem is that many researchers focus on the economic impacts of racing, and racecar drivers struggle against the stereotype of not being considered athletes, leading to a lack of scientific research on their health (Potkanowicz and Mendel 2013). However, medical research is highly significant because a driver’s health and physical condition are paramount in determining their performance and well-being. The harsh environment in which drivers compete can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory health issues, neurological concerns, and challenges with mental stress (Ferguson 2019). It is important to understand how detrimental these health strains are so they can be prevented from happening in the future. 

To start off, driving racecars can negatively impact drivers’ cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Timothy Lightfoot and Michael Reid, who studied applied Kinesiology at the University of Florida and Texas A&M University, stated that “the thermal stress of having to compete wearing multilayer fire suits and closed helmets in ambient temperatures of 50°C to 60°C results in the ubiquitous risk of dehydration” (Lightfoot and Reid 2019). This extreme dehydration can result in a 3% loss of a driver’s body weight, severely damaging their cardiovascular health (Carlson et al 2018). Regarding drivers’ respiratory systems, racecars often drive so closely together that they never have a break from carbon monoxide exposure. Additionally, unlike commuter cars, some racecars lack catalytic converters that reduce emissions (“From Rockets to Racecars” n.d.). This evidence goes along with Johns Hopkins Medicine, which examines the health concerns that stem from this exposure to carbon monoxide: “Headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures, chest pain, disorientation, and loss of consciousness” (“Carbon Monoxide Poisoning” 2019). A seizure during a race can be fatal, and continuous shortness of breath can severely damage one’s lungs. David Ferguson, who has worked with NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula 1 drivers, researched how gravitational forces greatly impact drivers’ blood flow: “With increased Gz exposure, the capacity of the circulatory system to return blood to the heart is impaired, due to blood pooling in the veins of the driver” (Ferguson 2019). For instance, a driver at an IndyCar practice race lost consciousness when the g-force prevented blood from flowing to his heart (Ferguson 2019). Ferguson’s on-site perspective and medical clinics like Johns Hopkins prove that driving racecars can lead to many cardiovascular and respiratory problems caused by excessive exposure to carbon monoxide, extreme sweating and dehydration, and g-forces that inhibit blood flow to the heart. These findings highlight how driving a racecar exposes drivers to significant health issues and pays a toll on their physical bodies.

In addition to cardiovascular and respiratory issues, driving racecars can lead to neurological concerns as drivers’ skulls and spines are put at risk when getting into crashes. For example, Dale Earnhardt, a former NASCAR driver, suffered a severe concussion after a major crash and did not give his head enough time to heal. As a result, he had difficulty gaining consciousness in the following race and ended up fatally crashing. Before this crash, Earnhardt admitted that he “couldn’t concentrate on things and couldn’t think too hard on anything, even television, without having to take a break” (Coble 2012). Additionally, NASCAR drivers can mistreat their concussions by going back to race too early before healing, which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, can lead to long-lasting damage in drivers’ brains, like dementia. Researchers at Cleveland Clinic continue by writing that “people who’ve experienced one concussion have an increased risk for another, more serious concussion if they return to physical activities or sports too soon. Providers call this second-impact syndrome (SIS). SIS increases your risk of severe complications like brain swelling and bleeding. SIS can be fatal” (“Concussion: Causes, Symptoms” 2020). This evidence along with Earnhardt’s testimony explores the causes and effects of severe concussions on athletes’ neurological well-being. The SAE International Journal of Transportation Safety conducted an on-site research examination at an IndyCar auto race, and they found that there was a spinal fracture at one driver’s T11 and T12 vertebrae after the race. They concluded that a combination of axial compression forces and bending movements at the spine, generated by the shoulder belt’s downforce as the driver's chest moved forward, caused these fractures (Katsuhara et al 2017). Drivers' spines are susceptible to fractures as the drivers may bend their backs in harmful ways as they race. Penn Medicine, the official health system and research database of the University of Pennsylvania, stated concerning spinal fractures that “severe fractures might require surgery to realign the bones. If left untreated, spinal fractures can lead to permanent spinal cord injury, nerve damage, and paralysis” (“Vertebrae/Spinal Fractures” 2022). A NASCAR driver, a motorsport research journal, and a medical center all prove that driving racecars places significant neurological strain on drivers. In summary, rushing back to racing increases drivers’ risk of second-impact syndrome, and untreated spinal fractures from a race, particularly at T11 and T12, can cause permanent nerve damage and paralysis. These neurological issues threaten drivers' lives, therefore, racing organizations and teams must implement measures to reduce these risks.

Mental health issues pose a significant challenge for racecar drivers as well. During an interview on Formula 1’s official YouTube Channel, drivers stated, “There’s this weird threshold that we are not able to overcome to talk about our feelings because we think it’s a sign of weakness” (“F1 Drivers Open Up” 2022). One of the drivers also spoke out regarding their mental struggle, saying, “There is so much pressure, so much scrutiny… if you made a mistake, everyone’s there to try and bring you down” (“F1 Drivers Open Up” 2022). These drivers’ statements portray how societal expectations negatively impact their mental condition, and make them feel vulnerable to express their difficulties and cope with their emotions. Naomi Deakin, who studied Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Cambridge, stated that a concussion is “diagnosed clinically according to a constellation of symptoms including alterations of mental state and consciousness” (Deakin et al 2021). Here, Deakin expresses how one of the symptoms of concussions, a common injury in racing, can lead to mental instability. On the same note, the actual concern of dealing with injuries and getting a concussion leads to an abundance of stress and anxiety as drivers prepare to compete, putting their lives at risk. Keith Green, an expert in sports and entertainment marketing who works with NASCAR drivers, references Jimmy Johnson, a NASCAR driver, who states how overwhelming and mentally draining racing is. Johnson expressed how the heat, humidity, Sun, thick fumes that obscure his view, and sick feeling while riding without a break can contribute to the overwhelming and challenging environment of racing (Green 2019). These drivers and medical researchers show how societal expectations, medical complications that result in mental instabilities, and the overwhelming number of obstacles drivers face when racing contribute to a great deal of mental stress and pressure for drivers as they compete. 

Overall, cardiovascular and respiratory issues, neurological injuries, and mental stressors common in racing all contribute to the idea that professionally driving racecars can lead to serious health problems for drivers. It is important to understand that there is more to the sport of racing than simply entertainment and economic significance, but medical concerns that directly affect drivers' performance and quality of life. Knowing the medical challenges drivers face as they compete is highly significant because it allows fans and medical responders to have the right approach when dealing with drivers' mental or physical situations. Racecar organizations must implement more safety measures and bring awareness to drivers’ mental health concerns in order to better the conditions for drivers in and out of the racecar.

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