Its a different kind of athletic. You have to have feel for what the car is doing, where you are in relation to the other cars, a sense of momentum. You do need quick reactions, but they need to be controlled. Bad things happen in a race car when you stab the breaks too hard, or smash the gas pedal too soon, or yank on the steering wheel. Its more of a finesse thing.


If there isn't any athleticism involved women could be as good at it as men are. There haven't been any women who have won championships in any of the major circuits. There have been a few that are good, but none have ever achieved the top levels. The only exception I can think of would be Shirley Muldowney in drag racing.