I'm glad that someone mentioned motorcycle racing in this thread... Not to take anything away from the auto racers (yes, they do have a physically demanding job), but the motorcycle racers are subjected to similar forces and must use their bodies to influence the bikes handling at the same time... even on the straightaways! (As an amateur motorcycle racer, I can personally attest to this... 8 laps (15-1/2 minutes) of racing leaves me as wiped-out as a 2 hour bicyle ride in the hills.)

Top speed? This year Loris Capirossi went faster on the straightaway on his Ducati MotoGP bike than Schumacher did in his Ferrari F1 at the same track!

For those interested, check out http://www.fastermovie.com for a good look at MotoGP. It's a movie all gearheads should definately see!