Why the telemetry box blew: A Roush Industries investigation revealed that, as expected, an interior short in a lithium battery ignited the fire in the cockpit of Robby Gordons Chevrolet last week that cost Gordon a shot at victory in the Global Crossing at the Glen. The battery packs in the driver compartments are attached via “vibration mounts,” but in the case of Gordons car, its box apparently experienced ” a lot more vibration than normal,” according to Sportvisions Peter Larsen, and spread to the other batteries. This week, to facilitate the needs of TNTs television coverage, the 12-volt lithium manganese dioxide batteries will be replaced by normal “D” alkaline batteries, and mounting procedures will be changed so that the vibration mounts do their job.(Gaston Gazette)(8-18-2001)
