4 Ways Race Car Driver Lindsay Brewer Prioritizes Her Mental Health as a Trailblazer in the Sport

Lindsay Brewer has been breaking new ground in the world of motorsports over the past few years. With over 3 million social media followers, the 27-year-old has been a trailblazer for female race car drivers—who only make up less than 10 percent of all athletes in the sport. In 2024 alone, Brewer has broken barriers, becoming the first American female racer to compete in the Indy NXT (the stepping stone to Indy 500) in 16 years.

While her achievements should speak for themself, Brewer continues to face both gender bias and societal misconceptions about the physicality of racing as a whole. “It’s incredibly physical,” she tells Well+Good. “I’ve tried almost every sport out there growing up, and racing was always the most physical sport. There’s no power steering, so imagine holding up a 25-pound weight for almost an hour and keeping it turning really fast.”

Brewer also explains that the high temperatures also play a major role in the difficulty. “The car can be 120 degrees Fahrenheit and you’re in a helmet suit,” she says. “You get so dehydrated and depleted of all the nutrients and electrolytes that I’ve even lost four pounds racing within one minute. I know bigger guys who’ve lost seven or eight because you’re in a fire suit and it’s so hot.”

“I’ve tried almost every sport out there growing up, and racing was always the most physical sport.” —Lindsay Brewer, race car driver

Beyond the physical and mental demands of racing, there’s the often-overlooked financial burden that many, Brewer included, underestimate. “Indy NXT was a $1.2 million endeavor for the year,” Brewer says, adding that competing in the Indy 500 would require a staggering $5 million. “Some drivers come from wealthy families, but for myself, I’ve been self-funding since I was 17. It’s a lot of work, and it’s a unique aspect of the sport compared to others like basketball or baseball.”

Despite her successful fundraising efforts this year, largely thanks to her social media influence, Brewer still faced the harsh reality of insufficient funds (crucial for covering expenses like car maintenance and team salaries). “I had to cut this season a little short because I ran out of funding,” she says. “It happens to a lot of people and it’s part of the sport, but it’s not easy to deal with and difficult when it happens.”

While Brewer’s mornings depend on her racing calendar, we caught up with her during the off-season to learn how she starts her day when at home, her mental health practices, and her unique training schedule.

A slow morning is her form of self-care

My fiancé wakes up at 6:30 a.m. naturally and then goes to the gym. He’s so routine, but for me, I like to sleep in—I need 10 hours of sleep. If I have something going on, I’ll set an alarm, but if I’m home, I’ll usually go to bed around 11 p.m. and wake up at 9 a.m.

Starting my day slowly after getting my 10 hours is how I prioritize my mental health. I travel so much that having slow days at home is honestly more for my mental health than anything. When I have to get up super early, I genuinely get so stressed, it sometimes ruins my day.

After my alarm goes off, I like to spend the next half hour relaxing in bed. I’ll check my phone or read. I’m currently loving the A Court of Thorns and Roses series as I love to escape into those fun fantasy worlds.

• A Court of Thorns and Roses Box Set ($50)

She prioritizes protein for breakfast

At around 9:30 a.m., I’ll get out of bed and throw on my Soho Home robe and Ugg slippers before heading to the kitchen. I really take my time in the morning and like to be super cozy and comfortable.

Breakfast is typically two scrambled eggs and some avocado toast. Protein is really important for me, and I like to prioritize it throughout the day. I don’t drink coffee, but I do love a Starbucks venti green tea. On a race weekend, I eat more carbs because I need that energy. As long as it has good protein and carbs—I love pasta and burgers—I’ll eat it because I need the sustenance.

• Soho Home Robe ($110)
• Ugg Tasman Slippers ($110)

Then it’s time for skincare

I’ll usually spend 30 to 60 minutes on breakfast before starting my skincare routine between 10 and 10:30 a.m. I like to keep things simple in the morning. I wash my face with Cetaphil face wash and then use the Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Serum and Peter Thomas Roth Tinted SPF. From there, I’ll either catch up on some important emails or head to the gym.

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($12)
• Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Daily Serum ($79)
• Peter Thomas Roth Tinted SPF ($27)

She caps her morning off at the gym for a workout session

Somewhere between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. is when I’ll usually go to the gym. A cute workout set from Alo, Lululemon, or Vuori puts me in a good mood, especially when I’m wearing blue or dark colors. For sneakers, my go-to is the NoBull Allday Knit Sneaker.

I train the most during the offseason, and it’s generally three days of lifting heavy and two days of cardio and light lifting, like a forearm workout or grip strength exercises. In driving, there’s a lot to do with your shoulders, neck, and forearm muscles while your legs also have to be strong for pushing the break really hard around corners.

To build these particular muscles, there are specific race car driver workouts, and I have a program specifically designed for me. It’s the same workout as men because we’re driving the same car, but I’m not lifting as much as them. I’m usually at the gym for an hour and a half, and I listen to my workout playlists, which vary between house and rap all the way to Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter.

• Alo Yoga Airlift Intrigue Sports Bra ($68)
• Alo Yoga 7/8 High-Waist Airlift Legging ($128)
• Lululemon Energy Longline Sports Bra ($58)
• Lululemon Align High-Rise Legging ($98)
• Vuori AllTheFeels Sports Bra ($58)
• Vuori AllTheFeels Legging ($98)
• NoBull Allday Knit Sneakers ($149)

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.