Becoming a Driver

Becoming a driver is about way more than just being able to drive a car. It requires you to have good judgment (on and off track). It’s about being a good role model to young kids and supporting sponsors. Becoming a driver also means submitting to your teams desires, and not making calls based off of your own personal agenda, all while keeping your morals in tact. Weather you can get into an IndyCar and drive it the first time out or not doesn’t make you a driver. It’s everything combined together; making the pieces fit together, and keeping the big picture in mind.


Back when I was driving Karts, I finished in a good position sometimes, but I could never be constant in my ability. I lacked a since of judgement on track on when to pass, when to not, and knowing if something was worth the risk or not. I often got in my head and lost the perspective of the goal at hand. I don’t say I was only a fair driver when in karts because of my finish standings, I say it because only sometimes I made good driving decisions, only sometimes I could come back and tell the mechanics what my kart needed, and only sometimes I remembered the track and debris on it to a ’T’, but sometimes I couldn’t. It was my lack in consistency of the fundamentals of driving that made me only a fair driver.


When I got into cars, my driving style changed drastically. My approach to track days were completely different. The way I viewed risk vs reward was so different. I had a confidence on track now because I had a responsibility to bring the car back to pits. The goal was no longer to only get out there and drive as fast as I possibly could. The goal was to hit my marks, to shift smoothly, to remember my gage temps, and drive with my head. It was about becoming so good at the fundamentals that going fast would become second nature when the goal at hand was achieved. Not only that, but driving became way more than just what was accomplished on track, but it also became about finding time for fans and sponsors after a race. It was about accomplishing what was best for the team as a whole and not just for myself.


I know I still have so much to learn on and off track, but I love looking back on my journey of becoming a driver and see how far I’ve come. The little girl who used to drive karts is not the same person today, but hopefully, a much more level headed driver, spokes person, and has a greater understanding of how I can better help sponsors. Driving is so much more to me than just steering a roaring car, it’s the everything’s in between. It’s knowing and staying true to the bigger picture.

Living by Faith,
Mianna 

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