what does she weigh? like 100 lbs. Do the cars have to all weigh the same?
If I’m not mistaken, minimum weight includes the driver. So, less driver = more ballast.
The less the driver weighs, the more fuel the pit crew can pump in to the tank during pit stops. Fewer stops for fuel can be a big advantage. I don't think there is a limit to fuel tank size.
Good question. According to this:
Do heavier drivers have a disadvantage over the drivers that don’t weigh as much?
Each car must weigh a minimum of 3,400 pounds ready to race, which includes the weight of the gas, oil, water, etc. Weights are added to cars whose driver weighs less than 200 pounds. Based on a starting driver weighing 200 pounds, drivers add weights in 10-pound increments up to a maximum of 50 pounds. For example, a driver weighing 185 pounds, adds 20 pounds of weigh to the car, and a driver weighing just 145 pounds adds the maximum 50 pounds(7-19-2000)
http://www.jayski.com/pages/faqrace.htm
From what I understand, the driver’s weight doesn’t make all that much of a difference but in fact a rather than being an advantage a lighter driver is somewhat disadvantaged but then again has a very slight advantage as they not only have to add weight to their car to bring it to the minimum, but can add it all to the left side of the car which supposedly helps in the turns.
I would think being in good overall shape and perhaps not being too small and light or grossly overweight is more of an advantage as drivers can lose 5 to 10 pounds during the course of a race.