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 limitations, changing 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 communicate for themself, Brewer continues to face each gender bias and societal misconceptions in regards to the physicality of racing as an entire. “It’s extremely bodily,” she tells Effectively+Good. “I’ve tried nearly each sport on the market rising up, and racing was at all times essentially the most bodily sport. There’s no energy steering, so think about holding up a 25-pound weight for nearly an hour and retaining it turning actually quick.”
Brewer additionally explains that the excessive temperatures additionally play a significant position within the problem. “The automotive may be 120 levels Fahrenheit and also you’re in a helmet go well with,” 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 larger guys who’ve misplaced seven or eight since you’re in a hearth go well with and it’s so sizzling.”
“I’ve tried nearly each sport on the market rising up, and racing was at all times 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 quite a lot of work, and it is a distinctive facet of the game in comparison with others like basketball or baseball.”
Regardless of her profitable fundraising efforts this yr, largely because of her social media affect, Brewer nonetheless confronted the cruel actuality of inadequate funds (essential for overlaying bills like automotive upkeep and crew salaries). “I needed to reduce 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 take care of and troublesome when it occurs.”
Whereas Brewer’s mornings rely on her racing calendar, we caught up along with her through the low season to learn the way she begins her day when at residence, 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 gymnasium. He’s so routine, however for me, I prefer to sleep in—I would like 10 hours of sleep. If I’ve one thing happening, I’ll set an alarm, but when I’m residence, I’ll normally 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 burdened, it typically ruins my day.
After my alarm goes off, I prefer to spend the following half hour stress-free in mattress. I’ll test my telephone or learn. I’m at the moment loving the A Courtroom of Thorns and Roses sequence as I like to flee into these enjoyable fantasy worlds.
She prioritizes protein for breakfast
At round 9:30 a.m., I’ll get away from bed and throw on my Soho Dwelling 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 cozy.
Breakfast is usually two scrambled eggs and a few avocado toast. Protein is absolutely 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 would like that power. So long as it has good protein and carbs—I like pasta and burgers—I’ll eat it as a result of I would like the sustenance.
Then it’s time for skincare
I’ll normally 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 gymnasium.
She caps her morning off on the gymnasium for a exercise session
Someplace between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. is after I’ll normally go to the gymnasium. A cute exercise set from Alo, Lululemon, or Vuori places me in a superb 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 light-weight lifting, like a forearm exercise or grip power workout routines. In driving, there’s lots to do together with your shoulders, neck, and forearm muscle tissue whereas your legs additionally must be robust for pushing the break actually exhausting round corners.
To construct these specific muscle tissue, 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 normally on the gymnasium for an hour and a half, and I hearken to my exercise playlists, which fluctuate between home and rap all the way in which to Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
