Editing Auto racing (section)

==Racing drivers==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2013}}
[[File:Podium 2016 Malaysia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Formula One]] racing drivers [[Max Verstappen]] ''(left)'', [[Daniel Ricciardo]] ''(center)'', and [[Nico Rosberg]] ''(right)'' celebrate on the podium of the [[2016 Malaysian Grand Prix]]]]
Racing drivers, at the highest levels, can be paid by the team, or by [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]s, and can command substantial salaries. Drivers who pay for their positions, or ''seats'', within racing teams are typically known as [[pay driver]]s, or ''gentleman drivers''. Drivers may also enter events as [[privateer (motorsport)|privateer]]s.

Contrary to popular assumption, racing drivers as a group do not have unusually strong reflexes or [[reaction time|peripheral response time]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Memmert |first1=D. |last2=Simons |first2=DJ |last3=Grimme |first3=T. |title=The relationship between visual attention and expertise in sports |journal=Psychol Sport Exerc. |date=October 2009 |volume=10 |pages=146–151|doi=10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.06.002 }}</ref> During repeated physiological and psychological evaluations of professional racing drivers, the two characteristics that stand out are racers' near-obsessive need to control their surroundings—psychological—and an unusual ability to process fast-moving information —physiological. Researchers have noted a strong correlation between racing driver psychological profiles and those of fighter pilots. In tests comparing racing drivers to the general public, the greater the complexity of the information processing matrix, the greater the speed gap between the two groups.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Differences between racing and non-racing drivers: A simulator study using eye-tracking |year=2017 |pmc=5679571 |last1=Van Leeuwen |first1=P. M. |last2=De Groot |first2=S. |last3=Happee |first3=R. |last4=De Winter |first4=J. C. |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=12 |issue=11 |pages=e0186871 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0186871 |pmid=29121090 |bibcode=2017PLoSO..1286871V |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Due partly to the performance capabilities of modern racing cars, racing drivers require a high level of [[Physical fitness|fitness]], focus, and the ability to concentrate at high levels for long periods in an inherently difficult environment. They often complain about injuries in the lumbar, shoulder, and neck regions.<ref name="2W"/> Racing drivers experience large [[g-force]]s due to [[formula racing|formula cars]] and [[sports prototype]]s generating high levels of [[downforce]], and being able to corner at high speeds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Driving a Race Car Takes Strength and Stamina: These Athletes Travel in Fast Lane but Keep Fit|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-19-sp-9410-story.html |access-date=February 24, 2013|work=The Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Tribune Publishing |date=May 19, 1985|location=Indianapolis}}</ref> [[Formula One]] drivers routinely experience lateral loads in excess of {{Convert|4.5|g-force|lk=on|abbr=|m/s2 ft/s2}}, requiring drivers to commit to frequent neck training regimens.<ref>{{cite news|last=Norton|first=Charlie|title=Formula One drivers feel the G-force|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/7681665/Formula-One-drivers-feel-the-G-force.html |access-date=April 11, 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=May 10, 2010}}</ref>