When Pietro Fittipaldi first raced in the Indy 500 in 2021, he got himself pumped up with music. He used to wear headphones to block out all the noise. But now, he says he’s calmed down. Instead of focusing on music, he likes to take in the energy of the crowd.
“I really like to just enjoy the moment, feel the energy of the crowd,” he says.
Energy is important for Fittipaldi this year. He’s driving car No. 30 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, sponsored by 5-Hour Energy. His meals before the race are designed to keep him going for hours of driving. He even has a new workout routine to help him handle the long races better. Before races, he takes a shot of 5-Hour Energy. He even mixes some into his helmet-fed hydration system for an extra boost during the race.
“When you’re doing over 240 miles an hour and averaging over 230 miles an hour at this track, it’s unlike any other feeling that I’ve felt in a race car,” he says. “The adrenaline is at an all-time high.”
Drivers feel a lot of force—four Gs—when they take the corners. Fittipaldi’s heart rate goes up to 180 beats per minute because of the adrenaline. The temperatures inside the car can go up to 140 degrees. But the hardest part of IndyCar’s big races, like the Indy 500, is how much focus they need.
“The focus you need to have on the ovals is, in my opinion, much higher than the road courses,” he says. “Any little mistake is going to be very costly. You know, the track is not forgiving at all. If you get a little bit in the apron, you lose the car, you’re in the wall and the crash is brutal. I mean, you’re crashing at 230 miles an hour into a wall.”
Before this season, Fittipaldi did something different in the gym. Usually, he works out to stay light. But because of IndyCar’s rules and the car’s lack of power steering, he focused on getting stronger. He gained fifteen pounds of muscle before the 2024 season.
“They were very compact functional movements, but at a very high weight,” he says. “Just to train the nervous system to be able to take heavier loads, and as well my body, because that’s what you need for the IndyCar.”
Before races, he eats a lot of carbs, like a long-distance runner.
“Because at the end of the day, that’s what gives you energy, and that’s what you need during a very long and exhausting race,” he explains.
With all the food, the 5-Hour Energy, and the adrenaline, Fittipaldi has almost all the energy he needs to focus on racing fast. He gets the rest of what he needs from his pit crew.
