Many sweltered in their full racing gear—driving suits, helmets, goggles, gloves—as they waited, one at a time, for the green flag to start their laps.

In any case, when I think about the driver all I can see is my own image frozen in his rearview mirror: my hair is still long; I'm thin, wearing a denim jacket and a pair of awful, oversize glasses.

Drivers in the survey also agreed to changing seats with passengers, seeing a movie, painting their toenails, nursing a newborn and putting in contact lenses when driving.