Long road back to racing hits high gear now
Sarah Fisher is back. She writes in her diary she feels blessed to have a full-time ride in the IndyCar Series and might be in her most competitive car yet.
I started preparing for the 2007 season back in August 2006 at Kentucky Speedway. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to get in an Indy car to refresh my name and my skills in open-wheel racing. It's been a long time in the works, but I'm 110 percent ready for the season to start.
We finally made our announcement that I had signed with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing on Jan. 30; I had never been so eager for something to happen in my life. The ups and downs of the offseason have been challenging for me but it was a relief when I finally signed my contract to drive the No. 5 Honda-powered Dallara. I've driven cars with a lot of different numbers in my career, but No. 5 is a little special since my mom was also No. 5 during her racing days.
We only brought one chassis with us to Daytona, so my teammate Buddy Rice was the only one who tested for our team. I have to say I'm not a very good spectator. It's like in basketball when you are sitting on the bench and you just can't wait to get in the game to play. That was me … antsy and dying to get in the car.
Buddy is going to be an amazing teammate! He's so cool. Completely down-to-earth. I didn't know Buddy very well up until now, but he's the coolest dude. He's been very open to me and willing to share information. He even called me the other night just to see what was up … talk about camaraderie.
Have you seen that show on MTV, "Two a Days?" Well, that's me; I work out twice a day. The demands of being a professional athlete mean that I must work out with my trainer in the morning and afternoon. I have to admit it's been a challenge. I'm like most American women with the typical female body and a weight that goes up and down.
Sticking to a tough regimen is difficult, and I'm constantly learning. I've learned that it's really about the diet and what you eat. Sticking to lean, good foods is definitely my weakness, being the Midwestern girl that I am.
When we got down to Miami, it was my first time back in an Indy car since the race at Chicagoland Speedway back in September. The first day was a full schedule of media; interviews and photo shoots for all the drivers. We shot all the footage for the new TV package for ESPN/ABC; it's amazing how long that stuff takes.
Our spring training was great. I was so excited to get back in the car and run some laps. We ran consistently just outside the top 10 all weekend. A testing session means that you are always trying new things and combinations. I didn't really get a chance to do much drafting to help post some quick times (and since we're all very competitive people, we all care about posting at least a few fast laps at every test). But we learned a lot, so that is what really matters.
After the test was over, the Dreyer & Reinbold team stayed three extra days to do some road-course testing. The guys spent Friday turning around the car, then Buddy got on the track on Saturday. He's really talented on the road course, very quick and consistent.
I got on the road course on Sunday and I have never had so much fun! It really reminded me of my sprint car days. It was my first time in an Indy car on a road course. I wasn't really sure what to expect but my times were really close to Buddy's and my engineers were really pleased with my performance.
When we were done running laps, I was exhausted. Your body shifts position on average 30 times when you go through a corner on a road course. And in all the gear shifting and the fact that our cars have no power steering while having to focus on where you are and where everyone else is -- it's tough. My neck was really sore the next day, as that wasn't necessarily a muscle I had been working out. My trainer has got me doing some new exercises to help develop those muscles. I wear certain weights on my head while I'm cleaning the house to further develop them. I'll only wear them when no one is home; they look ridiculous!
Did you hear we are racing in Iowa this year? As soon as we got back from spring training in Miami, on Monday, I was back on the road on Tuesday headed to the Quad Cities, which is a group of four cities (hence the "Quad") on the eastern edge of Iowa. The Quad Cities is home to John Deere and the corn growers of America. All the folks in Iowa are amazing. The new track there is going to be a big hit. The Knoxville Nationals sprint car races -- sort of the Super Bowl of sprint car racing -- draws huge crowds to a track not far from the new track near Des Moines.
We were part of the promotional tour to help promote Iowa Speedway and the Iowa Corn Indy 250. This is great venue to add to the IndyCar Series schedule because it's a huge corn-producing state. With our series running on 100 percent ethanol fuel this year, the tie to Iowa is a natural fit. Iowa produces more ethanol than any other state. Most people probably don't know that I've even driven a combine before. What other IndyCar Series driver can say that?
There has been so much going on lately gearing up for the season to start. We've been doing all the season-launch interviews for all the national papers and all the TV interviews. I was the first entry for the Indy 500. How cool is that?
There were years I didn't even know if I'd be in the 500 again and this year we are very planned out and focused. I didn't realize it was such a big deal to be the first entry but the local media in Indy ate it up. The history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is mind-boggling. Entering the speedway each day during the month of May is truly priceless and to be competing in the Indy 500 again means I'm the luckiest girl around.
In 2006, I held a banner for Vitor Meira while working for the firm Ignition doing the marketing side of racing in May. I experienced what it felt like to not be in the drivers' seat and it made me miss competing at Indy. Having the privilege to compete in the Indy 500 is something you can never take for granted. It's an opportunity that very few in this world get. Fortunately, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has given me that opportunity once again, and for that I am truly thankful. I'm determined to treat every opportunity to run the 500 like it's my last and give it my all.
After the open test, I feel really confident returning to Miami this weekend. Even though they banked it, it's not your typical stamped track. It's definitely a track that is not easy to set up your car for. We are just a small increment away from having a perfect race car. We are approaching the tracks in a methodical manner, which will help us in the end. Homestead will be a great start to our season and I'm really excited to kick it off. We've had our feet on the grounds there last month and will have a great car to start with. This year is the best opportunity I've ever had.
The guys at the shop have been working really hard with very long hours. I even made them all breakfast this past Sunday morning. Racing is such a team sport. I really appreciate all the work that goes on in the pits, in the garages and behind the scenes, and it was just my little way of saying thanks. It's going to be a great year and I hope you'll be along for the ride. And, again, I appreciate all the fans who come out to the tracks and watch on TV cheering me and all the other drivers on.
Dad is really excited and Mom is already stressed out; they will be at the majority of the races with me. I hope you'll stop by and say hello if you're out at the track. If you can't make it, be sure to tune into ESPN2 at 8 p.m ET on Saturday to see how we do.
Check back next week to see a new diary from this weekend. See you in Winner's Circle?
IRL IndyCar Series driver Sarah Fisher drives the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing No. 5 Dallara/Honda. She is providing a diary to ESPN.com. For more on Sarah, go to www.sarahfisher.com.
