Is Tossing Water Bottles A Problem?

A NASCAR official waving a caution flag, giving the
"one-to-go before green flag racing" symbol.
(Photo: Sean Gardner/NASCAR)

By @GucciardoJoey

This past Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the NASCAR On NBC Broadcast team showed two camera angles showing empty drivers bottles of water that had been tossed on the track.

The first reason that I can see drivers doing this is to bring out a caution on purpose (a caution for debris would be the most likely caution for this situation) for strategy reasons.

But, drivers say that it's just a "common practice."

No. We all do it. Common practice. https://t.co/Z7QxLz2YCS

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 19, 2015

Empty water bottles don't handle the corners very well. Sometimes fall down on the floor boards and cause trouble. https://t.co/EYGUbSVIfr

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 19, 2015

Strange how much my Twitter feed is full of water bottle conversation.

Empty water bottles don't handle the corners very well. Sometimes fall down on the floor boards and cause trouble. https://t.co/EYGUbSVIfr

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 19, 2015

Although tossing water bottles may seem suspicious, could it be dangerous?

I say it's safe. After Austin Dillon's incident, I say it's not going to do too much harm, maybe even none at all, considering that this sport is VERY safe.

For those awake and still interested, here's a view of my cockpit and where I keep my bottle. Via carbon bottle cage pic.twitter.com/2DMu1yXpR5

— landon cassill (@landoncassill) July 20, 2015

NASCAR can easily spot the water bottles because they are very large. And if a driver rund over one at 200 MPH, sure, itcan cause a nasty wreck, but after Austin Dillon hit the fence, it's pretty safe to say that nothing bad would happen if a car runs over an empty water bottle at 200 MPH or more.