For a man who started racing relatively late in life, Patrick Dempsey has gone quite far. Sure, some of his involvement can be attributed to the fortune made from playing Dr. Dreamboat, but he’s taken it more seriously than the regular celebrity-turned-racer, and learned some of the mental approach which make the best so imperturbable. In fact, he’s become quite zen in his approach to motorsport.
It might come across as a bit preachy, but Dempsey touches on an oft-ignored, semi-philosophical aspect of racing. It’s true that racing rewards aggression and the traits which typically go hand-in-hand with it—namely persistence, resilience, and determination. Yet, the best of the best invariably exude a sense of calm and focus. That composure helps them avoid mistakes, ensure consistency, plan ahead, clear their mind of any extraneous fluff, and dedicate every iota of focus to the task at hand. Since racing is one of the most mentally taxing endeavors known to man, those who can process and anticipate everything that racing entails, succeed. To handle the challenges of driving the car, the peripheral challenges, and still have some mental reserves left over are those who go the furthest.
Slow down to go fast.