NASCAR Releases Earnhardt Report

A T L A N T A, Aug. 21 -- NASCAR officials today confirmed that Dale Earnhardt's broken seat belt was one of several factors that contributed to his death. Officials also said they would not be making specific safety changes to the sport.

In what NASCAR described as "perhaps the most thorough, comprehensive investigation in U.S. motor sports history," the organization largely confirmed earlier findings that Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cup champion, died from "blunt force trauma to the head," and that his seat belt broke during the Feb. 18 crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500.

The panel's finding about the broken seat belt attracted the most attention during the conference, but experts did not specify why it broke. The panel also said the collision with another car and angle and impact at which Earnhardt hit the wall were other major factors.

"The conclusion is not the easiest conclusion to report," said Dr. James Raddin, one of the lead investigators. "There were a number of factors in which the timing came together to produce this result."

Raddin, a director with San Antonio-based Biodynamic Research Corp., aired a video re-creation showing how the belt stretched, and then tore during the wreck.

There were suspicions the belt was cut by rescue workers as they tried to remove Earnhardt from the battered car, since NASCAR announced the discovery of the broken belt only five days after the fatal crash.

But Helton said today: "The conclusion is clear — there was no cutting of the belt after the accident. It separated during load."

It was unclear who was to blame for the belt's separation. "I don't think you can assign a specific factor and say that's it," said Raddin.

The seat belt was part of a five-belt system that secures the driver's lap, shoulders and legs. With the leg strap torn, the other parts may have been affected when Earnhardt crashed into wall at nearly 160 mph.

More Careful

"There's not a bulletin ready to go out to change walls at race tracks or roll bars in race cars," said NASCAR President Mike Helton.