Its not about how much exersise you do, its about what your doing. I mean honestly I think golf is more athletic than racing...? How do you call that a sport, I guess everyones an athlete for driving there car then..?
Depends on what sort of racing your on about.
Maybe some club events.
But you take F1. It is a known thing, a fit and healthy person off the street can on average take 5 to 8 laps in an F1 car before their neck gives out and the exhuastion and strain in it means they cant hold their head up. An unfit unprepaired person, 2 laps. Nascar/indy car, the exact same. Then take into account the heat. All the above, on a cool day the cockpit temps are above 100*s/ 45*s C. Add in 3 layers of fireproof nomex, your cooking like a chicken. Move to hot and humid area's like Malaysia where its then upwards of 120*s with 85% humidity in the cockpit and your turned into a vegetable. 2 hours of racing in that, where your taking corners at 120mph+ experiencing 4 to 5g and losing up to 5kg in body weight in a race. I'm sorry but the whole idea racing drivers aren't athletes is rubbish. Most F1 drivers are spending their free time running tri-athlons and marathons. These guys make even regular athletes look out of shape at times.
Perfect example of why we all have our own opinion..
I consider it a sport, I consider NASCAR a sport also, they have to battle alot in that car. But to say that a professional golfer isnt an athlete is rubbish also. Yes anyone can go onto a golf course fat or not fat, old or not old and hit a golf ball and play a game of golf. Can they do what a
professional golfer does? No. If you consider racing a car a sport, anyone can do that honestly. Get in your car, take it on the road and go full speed. Then your racing a car and you can consider yourself an athlete and same goes for golf. Call up a buddy and shoot a good round of golf and call yourself an athlete but you cant do what Tiger does, and you cant do what a F1 racer does.
I understand what Tiger did and all also. But think about it...lets say Tom Brady, sense every seems to make him sound like some GREAT athlete, which he is. If he went around doing the same thing as Tiger, why would that matter AT ALL about his NFL Career? Serouisly playing football and having sexual relationships with other woman while being married would have NOTHING to do with each other? So what that doesnt make him the best athlete anymore? :-?