PitFit offers unique training opportunity for IndyCar drivers

The centrality of Indianapolis on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule leads to many of its drivers adopting the city as a permanent home. PitFit Training, a personal training gym for racecar drivers, has taken advantage of this with its state-of-the-art training catered specifically for the physical and mental demands of drivers.

PitFit Founder and CEO Jim Leo has been working with IndyCar drivers for over 25 years, constantly improving upon his craft with new equipment and understanding on how to train drivers. PitFit uses a combination of cardio training and neurocognitive training by adding mental and reactionary challenges to strength exercises. 

PitFit hosts renowned IndyCar drivers such as Indy 500 winners Alexander Rossi, Tony Kanaan, and Scott Dixon. Additionally, Leo claims that currently around 80% of INDY NXT drivers, a developmental racing series sanctioned by IndyCar, attend PitFit.

While some equipment seems unique to the racing world at PitFit, Leo finds that “a lot of the equipment that we have isn’t necessarily designed just for racing; we’ve just modified it and fit it to our needs, items like the synaptic sensory station, stroke, glasses, those kinds of things. Those are very universal as far as athletics, but we’ve used them in a manner that is much more specific to racing.”

In an attempt to cater more directly to the drivers though, Leo has created his own device called the ‘Race Trainer.’

“I wanted to find a way for the driver to simulate the load they go through in turning the car,” said Leo. “But I also wanted to incorporate reactions, so we incorporated light systems on the board where they would have to react to the lights while fighting the same kind of upper body strength needs you get in the race car.”

The patent pending device is still in its prototype phase, but Leo plans on releasing a version for purchase in the near future.

Another unique factor in training drivers comes in the form of upper body endurance. Leo finds that “Most cardiovascular equipment is lower body specific. It’s ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, but in racing most of your work is done with the upper body.” PitFit utilizes SkiErg, upper body bikes and rope machines to do cardio training that better suits racing.

PitFit is expanding to Charlotte, North Carolina after acquiring another company that ran a similar operation. The gym is situated nearby the Charlotte Motor Speedway which hosts the Coca-Cola 600 and The Bank of America Roval 400 for the NASCAR Cup Series.

Leo finds that further expansion is unlikely as no other locations offer a concentrated enough population of drivers. Leo said “we’ve expanded to working with affiliate facilities. We’ve also expanded our coaches around the world and around the country so that they can do remote coaching.”