Multiple drivers felt the effects of a humid day in Sunday’s Bank of America 500, with Kyle Busch getting the worst of it and having to lay in the infield grass after experiencing heat stroke-like conditions and elevated carbon monoxide readings during the race.
Busch’s problems were compounded due to damage his No. 18 Toyota suffered through multiple accidents, which allowed more carbon monoxide into his cockpit.
NASCAR America analysts Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty discussed the situation.
“Even though (drivers) have sealed helmets, it’s still not a healthy situation,” Letarte said.
Petty addressed the stresses drivers endured in the cockpit, which was helped by dehydration and lack of preparation for the weather conditions.
“I think it caught a lot of drivers off guard as humid as it was yesterday,” Petty said. “If you’re caught off guard and then something happens to your car like what happened to Kyle Busch, you’re going to be laying in the grass. ... I don’t think it will catch any of these drivers off guard the rest of the year.”
Letarte raised the point that Busch endured the entire 337-lap race in those conditions to gain a small amount of points. Later in the show, he said if Busch has a bad day at Talladega and advances to the Round of 8 after Kansas by a slim point margin, to remember the image of Busch laying in the grass.
Watch the video for the full discussion.