Danica Patrick, the celebrated former NASCAR and IndyCar driver, has opened up about her workout routines, offering practical advice based on her own experiences. As someone known for her athletic achievements and intense discipline, Patrick’s workout advice has drawn attention from both fans and fitness enthusiasts who want to understand how she stays in shape.
During a Friday workout session recorded by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, Patrick, now a broadcaster after a remarkable racing career including 191 Cup Series races and 116 in the IndyCar Series, was candid about her ongoing commitment to fitness. When asked about her session, Patrick was straightforward in her assessment, highlighting her strong opinions about exercise preferences.
I didn’t get this body by doing cardio. I did this by lifting weights. But today we’re doing cardio, and I’m probably never coming back.
– Danica Patrick, former NASCAR and IndyCar driver
Inside Danica Patrick’s Core Strength Workouts
Recent social media updates gave a closer look at Patrick’s training regimen. These clips depicted her performing landmine press movements aimed at the shoulders, triceps, and chest, as well as a standing dumbbell shoulder press. Additionally, earlier footage showed her repeatedly deadlifting 165 pounds, an exercise that targets multiple key muscles like the glutes, hamstrings, and core.
Despite stepping away from full-time racing in 2018 after finishing her part-time runs in both the Cup Series and IndyCar, Patrick appears to have maintained the fitness level required for her racing days. She has shared details of her preferred approach to staying in shape, emphasizing practical strength training tactics that can benefit a broad audience.
Danica Patrick Advocates for Weight Training Over Cardio
On the Believe in Good podcast in June 2025, Patrick elaborated on her fitness views when she was asked for accessible workout advice. She did not hesitate to express a clear preference for weightlifting and to question the necessity of cardio for effective fitness.
Number one, lift weights like 100 percent all the way. Flush cardio down the freaking toilet. It’s pointless,
– Danica Patrick, former NASCAR and IndyCar driver
Patrick explained her reasoning, stating that proper weightlifting can provide cardiovascular benefits on its own and stressed the importance of resistance training for comprehensive fitness. She also acknowledged that not everyone will be able to afford a trainer, but insisted that the key is to make lifting weights part of one’s regular routine. For those seeking alternatives, she encouraged walking as an easy and effective way to add movement to daily life.
You can even just walk outside. I don’t even walk that much, but if there was any kind of like movement activity that I would do otherwise, it would just be walking or kind of just being active.
– Danica Patrick, former NASCAR and IndyCar driver
Testing Limits and Healthy Habits in Everyday Life
Patrick’s devotion to fitness extends beyond everyday gym routines. In December, she documented a gym challenge she undertook during a trip to Washington, D.C. She described her participation in the “Pete and Bobby Challenge,” which demanded 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups completed as quickly as possible. Patrick executed the challenge in five minutes and thirty-five seconds, pushing her body and demonstrating her ongoing dedication to strength and discipline.
Flew to DC to do the Pete and Bobby Challenge!!! 50 pull ups and 100 push ups for time. Break it up how you want and do the pull ups kipping or strict. I did it in 5:35. What can you do?! Healthy habits daily, not when you need it. Mind, body, and spirit.
– Danica Patrick, former NASCAR and IndyCar driver
While strength training forms the core of her advice, Patrick recently broadened her activity choices by incorporating some extra cardio on a skiing trip to Vail, Colorado, demonstrating her willingness to adapt and try new things when the opportunity arises.
The Ongoing Impact of Danica Patrick’s Approach
Danica Patrick’s consistent advocacy for weightlifting, along with her practical perspective on movement, serves as both inspiration and practical advice for those seeking long-term fitness. Her insights continue to resonate, particularly for individuals looking to move away from cardio-focused regimens and adopt strength-based routines. As she continues to challenge herself with new physical and mental tests, her approach is likely to keep shaping conversations about effective workout strategies for years to come.
