Having a 50-60 pound weight advantage for 500 miles is a big deal in these cars. Put some weight under the seat and lets see the big deal then.
In regards to NASCAR- she will not make it. Not because she is a woman either.
This fawning over a "rookie" status is crap also. I remember one I500 when the new driver took a tour on the track bus and the old tour driver showed the best line of the track. The kid won the race.
Here is the formula for winning at racing. Money, money, money, luck, skill, and more money.
Even given the "weight" issue, I still think it took guts to drive as fast as she did. What if one guy is 210 and another is 180. Are they going to complain about that? I for one, applaud anyone that can drive that fast no matter what they weigh. And by the way, I was thrilled that Carl Edwards won the Busch and Nascar the same weekend. That is quite an incentive for rookies.