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NASCAR to break its safety silence

Today, the organization presents the findings of an investigation into the death of Dale Earnhardt and addresses ways to make the sport safer.

By JOANNE KORTH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 21, 2001

ATLANTA -- By now, there aren't many secrets left.

So when NASCAR reveals today the findings of its six-month investigation into the crash that killed driver Dale Earnhardt on the last lap of the Daytona 500 in February, it will be just as interesting to see what NASCAR has learned about itself.

Extremely private, even covert regarding safety issues in the past, NASCAR can step from the shadow of its darkest day into the light of a new era by sharing not only what it knows about the cause of Earnhardt's death but ways to make racing safer.

The report will be released at a 3 p.m. news conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Atlanta. During a two-hour presentation, an engineer and a researcher will detail every step they took in studying the Feb. 18 crash.

"What the world needs to see is that NASCAR is very good, honest, hard-working and doesn't have the attitude that it controls the world and can hide stuff," car owner Robert Yates said.

According to the Associated Press, NASCAR plans to announce the formation of a traveling safety team similar to ones employed by the CART and IRL series. The team would include doctors and emergency service technicians who could respond with specialized equipment.

Such a team also would go a long way toward responding to recent questions about NASCAR's credibility and dedication to safety in the months since Earnhardt's death, the fourth in 14 months on the sanctioning body's three major circuits.

Three drivers were killed last year in front-end crashes similar to Earnhardt's. Busch series driver Adam Petty and Winston Cup driver Kenny Irwin died of basilar skull fractures six weeks apart last summer at New Hampshire International Speedway and truck series driver Tony Roper died of head injuries in April 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Because NASCAR is a privately owned company with no regulatory commission, it answers to no one. In the past, it has kept drivers and teams abreast of safety research but withheld information from the public by calling it "a work in progress."

When Earnhardt died, the demand for answers was too loud to ignore. NASCAR faced a growing public relations problem that intensified when its claim that Earnhardt's left lap belt broke during the crash was disputed by an emergency medical worker at the scene.

By fully disclosing the investigation results, NASCAR might be able to set the record straight.

"I've talked to a number of people about what's being looked at and what's being done, and what I see is a new NASCAR," car owner Ray Evernham said. "They're really going in the right direction as far as getting as many opinions and the best opinions out there.

"This truly is going to be the most comprehensive report that we've ever seen in our sport. ... With the time and the money they've spent, they've definitely come up with ways to make the cars safer."

The much-anticipated report is expected to confirm the findings of Dr. Barry Myers, an independent medical expert who, after examining Earnhardt's autopsy photos, concluded he died of a basilar skull fracture caused by severe head-whip.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the report does not blame the broken seat belt but points to the rigid construction of the cars, which do not absorb enough energy in front-end crashes.

To most in the garage area, that sounds right.

"I feel pretty sure I understand and know what happened," said Bobby Labonte, the defending Winston Cup champion. "We've taken the safety measurements on our parts, the drivers' parts, crew chiefs, car owners to make it better."

Among the safety innovations already being employed are head and neck support devices, such as the HANS and Hutchens, which help prevent the head-whip action that causes basilar skull fractures. In Sunday's Pepsi 400 race at Michigan, 41 of 43 drivers wore such a device, including, for the first time, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Experts already are working on a cocoon-like driver's seat and energy-absorbent front bumpers. NASCAR also will address the possible use of soft walls and crash-box data recorders.

"I don't think there will be any surprise about the major conclusions of what caused Earnhardt's death," said Dr. Robert Hubbard, who invented the HANS device. "But my expertise is in how to survive a crash, how to help the driver avoid injury, so I will be interested in the details of what they find."

According to the experts who played major roles in the investigation, NASCAR did not steer them in any way, nor did the organization flinch at paying for additional work. According to the AP, the cost is estimated at $1-million.

"As far as I'm concerned, we would not have taken the retention if we were not going to be able to do an objective analysis," said Dr. James Raddin, a director with Biodynamic Research Corp., which was retained by NASCAR in April. "We were given that opportunity."

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

EARNHARDT REPORT: NASCAR reports the findings of its investigation into the death of Dale Earnhardt, 3 p.m. today. TV: CNN/SI.

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