It’s 7 a.m. and two dozen men of various shapes, sizes and age leisurely form a line at St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis to commence their thrice-weekly offseason conditioning session.
Certified strength and conditioning coach Aaron Feldman quickly and effectively energizes the Andretti Autosport crew members with instructions that encompass a series of exercises aimed at improving long-term flexibility relating to their multi-task work environments and overall health.
A crew member’s in-season work day consists of long hours on their feet – both at the race shop and racetrack – compounded by travel and on race weekends by body mechanics of specific duties during pit stops. Over the course of the seven-month Verizon IndyCar Series season, it can take a physical toll.
“The misconception by a lot of people when they hear that pit crews are training is it’s grueling day in, day out, getting after it, breathing hard and sweating. There are times and place for that, but this is preparation for a marathon,” said Tim Drudge, St. Vincent Sports Performance brand and business development manager and a former strength and conditioning coach with Panther Racing.
“Especially with age considerations and a wide range of physical abilities, a wide range of athleticism and a wide range of injury history, you have to cast a wide net to address the little things that eventually you build upon. You want to get to a point where their bodies are functioning well, then we can start adding components such as strength and endurance and power.
“If you start with a poor foundation, then you’re going to break down. (Some fans) don’t get a good sense of all that goes on behind the scenes so they don’t take into consideration the travel time, time in garage bent over car and many positions. That’s where our knowledge of the sport helps these guys.”
Individual evaluations were conducted before the program started and progress is charted. Mobility, flexibility, injury prevention and mental preparedness are the keys and goals for the 2016 season.
“Everyone thinks of the drivers as athletes and I think the pit crews are as well,” said Andretti Autosport director of engineering and race operations Rob Edwards, who also participates in all the activities. “For that 8 seconds when the car is on pit lane and they need to perform it is about mental and physical preparation and being in the zone. This program helps them get in the zone that the driver is in for two hours in the race.”
After about 20 minutes of warm-ups, the group transitions to multiple stations of resistance and light weight training. Components such as strength, endurance and power will be added as the program progresses.
“It benefits all of us,” Edwards said. “Although it’s a group activity, it’s also tailored individually. It’s team building as well.”
