NASCAR officials showed off a photo of the illegal hydration packs that were discovered on Todd Gilliland and Cody Ware’s cars ahead of the Daytona 500.
Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer previously commented on the weight ahead of the penalties telling SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, “It’s basically unapproved mounting of ballast. That one, I don’t have any real sympathy for them on. They’re taking hydration systems that are for the driver, that are critical and putting ballast in it. Which is, that’s just not cool.”
The two drivers were eventually penalized 10 driver points with their owners also being penalized 10 owner points following the race.
Ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, NASCAR officials showed off the illegal hydration packs that were discovered pre-race inspection for the Daytona 500. According to NASCAR.com, officials “found that lead weights were added to the hydration packs and various cord covers that were not secured in both vehicles.” The outlet also noted that officials discovered that “parts of the driver cooling system and a power cord” also had “additional lead weight” and the system was “not hooked up and sitting on the driver’s side during the inspection.”
This added weight is a violation of Section 14.11.2.1. A which states that “any and all ballast added to the vehicle must be secured in a ballast container(s).”
Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran commented on the packs, “They probably weren’t planning on racing with this, but what they were doing is having this on for right side weight in the inspection.”
He added, “The ballast was to the right side where the driver hydration is, which we take seriously. Our drivers, we want to make sure they get proper hydration. So this was on the right side of the car. That (part) would have been exchanged during the approved adjustments prior to racing.”
“You add that up and we could be anywhere from 10 to 14 pounds [heavier] … we don’t need to get that technical, but we know a power cord doesn’t weigh what this weighs,” Moran explained. “Most teams don’t go in this direction because the price is too big – again, 10 points doesn’t sound like much, but it is if you’re trying to win a championship.”
What do you make of these hydration packs with the added weight?