Lindsay Brewer has been breaking new floor on the earth of motorsports over the previous few years. With over 3 million social media followers, the 27-year-old has been a trailblazer for feminine race automotive drivers—who solely make up lower than 10 p.c of all athletes within the sport. In 2024 alone, Brewer has damaged obstacles, turning into the primary American feminine racer to compete within the Indy NXT (the stepping stone to Indy 500) in 16 years.
Whereas her achievements ought to converse for themself, Brewer continues to face each gender bias and societal misconceptions in regards to the physicality of racing as a complete. “It’s extremely bodily,” she tells Effectively+Good. “I’ve tried nearly each sport on the market rising up, and racing was all the time essentially the most bodily sport. There’s no energy steering, so think about holding up a 25-pound weight for nearly an hour and protecting it turning actually quick.”
Brewer additionally explains that the excessive temperatures additionally play a significant function within the problem. “The automotive will be 120 levels Fahrenheit and also you’re in a helmet swimsuit,” she says. “You get so dehydrated and depleted of all of the vitamins and electrolytes that I’ve even misplaced 4 kilos racing inside one minute. I do know greater guys who’ve misplaced seven or eight since you’re in a hearth swimsuit and it’s so sizzling.”
“I’ve tried nearly each sport on the market rising up, and racing was all the time essentially the most bodily sport.” —Lindsay Brewer, race automotive driver
Past the bodily and psychological calls for of racing, there’s the often-overlooked monetary burden that many, Brewer included, underestimate. “Indy NXT was a $1.2 million endeavor for the yr,” Brewer says, including that competing within the Indy 500 would require a staggering $5 million. “Some drivers come from rich households, however for myself, I’ve been self-funding since I used to be 17. It’s a number of work, and it is a distinctive side of the game in comparison with others like basketball or baseball.”
Regardless of her profitable fundraising efforts this yr, largely due to her social media affect, Brewer nonetheless confronted the tough actuality of inadequate funds (essential for masking bills like automotive upkeep and crew salaries). “I needed to minimize this season slightly brief as a result of I ran out of funding,” she says. “It occurs to lots of people and it is a part of the game, but it surely’s not straightforward to cope with and troublesome when it occurs.”
Whereas Brewer’s mornings depend upon her racing calendar, we caught up together with her through the low season to learn the way she begins her day when at house, her psychological well being practices, and her distinctive coaching schedule.
A sluggish morning is her type of self-care
My fiancé wakes up at 6:30 a.m. naturally after which goes to the fitness center. He’s so routine, however for me, I prefer to sleep in—I want 10 hours of sleep. If I’ve one thing happening, I’ll set an alarm, but when I’m house, I’ll often go to mattress round 11 p.m. and get up at 9 a.m.
Beginning my day slowly after getting my 10 hours is how I prioritize my psychological well being. I journey a lot that having sluggish days at house is actually extra for my psychological well being than something. When I’ve to rise up tremendous early, I genuinely get so harassed, it generally ruins my day.
After my alarm goes off, I prefer to spend the following half hour enjoyable in mattress. I’ll test my telephone or learn. I’m presently loving the A Courtroom of Thorns and Roses sequence as I really like to flee into these enjoyable fantasy worlds.
She prioritizes protein for breakfast
At round 9:30 a.m., I’ll get off the bed and throw on my Soho Residence gown and Ugg slippers earlier than heading to the kitchen. I actually take my time within the morning and prefer to be tremendous cozy and comfy.
Breakfast is usually two scrambled eggs and a few avocado toast. Protein is actually necessary for me, and I prefer to prioritize it all through the day. I don’t drink espresso, however I do love a Starbucks venti inexperienced tea. On a race weekend, I eat extra carbs as a result of I want that power. So long as it has good protein and carbs—I really like pasta and burgers—I’ll eat it as a result of I want the sustenance.
Then it’s time for skincare
I’ll often spend 30 to 60 minutes on breakfast earlier than beginning my skincare routine between 10 and 10:30 a.m. I prefer to maintain issues easy within the morning. I wash my face with Cetaphil face wash after which use the Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Serum and Peter Thomas Roth Tinted SPF. From there, I’ll both make amends for some necessary emails or head to the fitness center.
She caps her morning off on the fitness center for a exercise session
Someplace between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. is after I’ll often go to the fitness center. A cute exercise set from Alo, Lululemon, or Vuori places me in a very good temper, particularly after I’m carrying blue or darkish colours. For sneakers, my go-to is the NoBull Allday Knit Sneaker.
I practice essentially the most through the offseason, and it’s typically three days of lifting heavy and two days of cardio and lightweight lifting, like a forearm exercise or grip power workout routines. In driving, there’s quite a bit to do along with your shoulders, neck, and forearm muscle groups whereas your legs additionally should be sturdy for pushing the break actually onerous round corners.
To construct these explicit muscle groups, there are particular race automotive driver exercises, and I’ve a program particularly designed for me. It’s the identical exercise as males as a result of we’re driving the identical automotive, however I’m not lifting as a lot as them. I am often on the fitness center for an hour and a half, and I take heed to my exercise playlists, which differ between home and rap all the best way to Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
