NASCAR: Earnhardt Seat Belt Broken
R O C K I N G H A M, N.C., Feb. 23, 2001 -- Dale Earnhardt's lap belt was found to be broken after the stock car racing champion was fatally injured in a crash at the Daytona 500, NASCAR officias said today.
Earnhardt, 49, might have survived Sunday's crash if the belthad held, a doctor said.
"A broken left lap seat belt came apart," said NASCAR PresidentMike Helton. "We don't know how, when or where, yet. We willcontinue our investigation."
Dr. Steve Bohannon, the head of emergency medical services atDaytona International Speedway, speculated that with the brokenbelt, Earnhardt's body could have been thrown forward and to theright, sending him flying into the steering wheel.
Bohannon, who tried to save Earnhardt's life as the driver satslumped in the wreckage, said Earnhardt's chin might have hit thesteering wheel, causing the major head injury that killed him onimpact. A skull fracture ran from the front to the back of hisbrain. His sternum, eight ribs on the left side and left ankle alsowere broken.
Seat Belts Have Been Problem-Free in the Past
"If his restraint system — his belts — had held, he would havehad a much better chance of survival," Bohannon said.
Earnhardt's seat belt was made by Simpson Safety Products inMooresville, N.C., former crew chief Larry McReynolds said. OwnerBill Simpson, a former Indy car driver, did not immediately returna phone call for comment.
The company is a leading manufacturer of safety products forNASCAR.
"The Simpson belts have always been fine, never a problem,"said McReynolds, who worked with Earnhardt in 1998 when the driverwon the Daytona 500 in his 20th try.
Like most drivers at Sunday's race, Earnhardt had shunned theuse of the U-shaped HANS device — for Head And Neck Support — which many drivers find bulky and uncomfortable. The device fits around the neck and is attached by strap to the helmet and frame of thecar.
"I do support further neck and head restraints, but I'm notconvinced the HANS device would have made a difference in thiscase," Bohannon said.
'I Miss My Father'
Following the NASCAR news conference, Earnhardt's son Dale Jr.said he will drive in Sunday's race at North Carolina Speedway in acar owned by Dale Earnhardt Inc.
The son finished second in Sunday's race, moments afterEarnhardt crashed.
"I miss my father and I cried for him out of my own selfishpity," he said. "We just have to remember he's in a better placethat we all want to be."
Richard Childress, Earnhardt's longtime car owner, said the seatbelts were standard and were new when the car was built lastNovember.
Gary Nelson, the Winston Cup director, said the lap belt waspart of a five-point harness and that the webbing near the lowerleft buckle came apart. He would not say whether the material wascut, frayed or otherwise damaged.
"All we know conclusively is the belt came apart," Nelsonsaid. "We've never seen it, we've talked to people in thebusiness, and they say they've never seen it in 52 years of NASCARracing."
No. 3 Won't Race Again
Meanwhile, Childress confirmed that his Busch seriesdriver, Kevin Harvick, would take Earnhardt's place on the team forthe season. His No. 29 car will carry the same Goodwrenchsponsorship and will be painted white. Kevin Hamlin will continueas crew chief, Childress said.
NASCAR does not retire numbers, but Childress said he wouldnever again race Earnhardt's black No. 3 car.
The death of the popular Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cupchampion, in the last lap of the Daytona 500 stunned the racingworld and led to calls for better safety measures.
Earnhardt was buried in a private service on Wednesday in hishometown of Kannapolis. On Thursday, thousands of people gatheredto honor him at a memorial service.
Helton said NASCAR was not contemplating any safety changes forSunday's race at North Carolina Speedway. He said experts werestill looking at Earnhardt's battered Chevrolet and will also studythe broken belt.
He said information on the broken belt will be passed on to crewchiefs in the Winston Cup and Busch series here and at a truck race.