It used to be alcohol that was the problem in the pits with crews and drivers. With the availability of numerous prescription and illegal drugs, racing now has to deal with those issues as evidenced by recent developments. Do we need to be concerned? Here is what I think....
Drug use has always been a problem (this includes alcohol), but in all honesty, a very small problem. In any sport, we have a small group of participants who will operate outside the rules, whatever that might be. Long ago the drivers and crew drank. If not consumed on race day, enough of that stuff was in their system from the night before to affect their judgement.
Now we see more varied forms of intoxication. Signs point to abuse of pills, smoke based drugs, and even heroin and crack are seen cropping up. What are the officials to do to make racing safe with all of these possibilities?
Surely there must be some type of easy check for suspected team members undergo to insure a sober event. It was all so easy when it was just alcohol. The officials at the gate could just check coolers on the trucks going into the pits or be guided by the smell of a person breath. Not any more. Let's see where all of this ends up. If you have comments or suggestions, let's have them. We're interested in how you feel.