Warm Texas Temperatures bring forth a “hydrated” planning for double header

Last year, the double header at Reliant Park in Houston was run in September. Though this year, IndyCar officials made the decision to move the race to the last weekend in June. As a result, drivers are going to face warmer conditions, which will make an event that was tough on drivers before even tougher.

“When you sit in that seat you’re really wrestling the car,” Mike Conway said. “Especially qualifying laps when it’s on edge everywhere and you’re trying to wring its neck. It’s quite heavy steering; when you don’t have power steering and these bumpy courses it takes it out of you.

“You take that with all the heat, constant braking, all the G loads that go through your body. You get out of the race and might not feel it straight away because the adrenaline is flowing but you feel beat up afterward.”

To be sure that they’re well-prepared for these events during the season, drivers endure year-round strength-based training and road work – either running or cycling – to keep themselves fit. The training is also coupled with hydration and proper calorie intake to make sure that they’re in the best shape leading into the weekend.

“It starts months before getting your body used to holding water, and if you’re training in hot temperatures you have to keep hydrating,” Conway commented. “Over the years you try different things. You make sure you get your food at right time and the right foods. Carbs are a good energy source; potatoes and rice. Vegetables and proteins like fish or nuts and fruits, seeds and grains. As long as you’re getting the right foods in you don’t have to worry about gaining weight. I don’t have much to lose anyway (141 pounds on a 5-foot-7 frame).”

If drivers are not well hydrated, it becomes a big issue as Conway says it’s very hard to cool down in the car, no matter how much water you drink.

“If you get a bit too hot, putting up your visor is not enough,” he added. “Just the heat off the car in front of you makes a difference. Being caught in traffic can make your race about 20 percent harder.

“The minute you start getting dehydrated you start losing concentration and that’s something you can’t allow in a race. In the race you have to remind yourself to drink because the moment you get thirsty it’s too late.

“You want to get out of the car knowing that you’ve given it everything.”

Conway has mastered the art of knowing what it takes as the Arizona driver won a pair of events last year and won earlier this season at Long Beach. Now Conway looks for his second win of the year to give Ed Carpenter Racing  their second straight win following Ed Carpenter’s win at Texas Motor Speedway three weeks ago.