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CNN Live At Daybreak

NASCAR Releases Official Report on Earnhardt Death

Aired August 22, 2001 - 08:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Six months after the racing world lost a legend, a NASCAR safety investigation team has issued a report. It concludes a broken seat belt and several other factors contributed to the head injuries that killed Dale Earnhardt.

So we turn to NASCAR Senior Vice President George Pine for comments on the report, and what it means for NASCAR next.

Good morning.

GEORGE PINE, NASCAR: Thank you, Carol. It's good to be here.

LIN: And good to see you.

So what is it that we learned yesterday that we really, frankly, didn't know already from the previous investigation after the crash?

PINE: Well, we learned that Dale Earnhardt died from a blow to the back of the head. We learned that the 36 car played a significant role and the fact that it prepositioned Dale Earnhardt in the cockpit in a challenging position. We also learned that the car went into the wall in a very severe angle, and that the belt broke at impact under a severe load.

And also NASCAR yesterday laid out a vision for the future for safety announcing the installation of data recorders, a medical liaison, a full-time investigator. We developed a world class computer model as the result of the investigation. We announced a restraint study, and also further solidified our commitment to our tech center in Hickory, North Carolina.

LIN: And all changes that no doubt might add to the safety for drivers down the road in the future. But in the meantime, there is an immediate solution available, according to several safety experts, and that is the HANS device. It is the helmet and the neck restraint.

Why is it that NASCAR declined to make that mandatory for NASCAR drivers?

PINE: Well, NASCAR strongly supports the use of head restraint devices. Additionally, NASCAR has flown in from all over the world experts to educate our drivers on the benefits of head restraint devices. At the end of the day, though, NASCAR doesn't want to mandate a device that makes drivers feel less safe instead of more safe. At the end of the...

LIN: But why does it make them less safe when all of the studies show that it makes them more safe?

PINE: Well, let's talk about it. Head restraints make drivers safer, and we feel strongly about that. But if you ask any of the experts out there, everyone's occupant restraint system is different. Mandating a specific head restraint device for drivers that range from 5'5" to 6'5" and have different set ups in their cocoon, we don't believe it is in everyone's best interest.

What we do believe is that a driver pick a head restraint device, and that we at NASCAR take a leadership position in making our drivers and team owners aware of the best head restraint devices out there. And we are pleased to report that 41 of the 43 drivers that drove this past weekend used a head restraint device.

LIN: Doesn't a head restraint device, though, take the action out of the sport?

PINE: No, not at all. Actually it's an excellent device. It has proven successful in the past, and we look for -- it's just part of the overall safety effort. Of course, we encourage six-point harnesses instead of five-point harnesses. We are looking into new seat designs and a continuing effort to make NASCAR as safe as possible.

LIN: Well, many of the drivers that we spoke to after Dale Earnhardt's crash, frankly, they just said one of the reasons why fans go to the track is because, yes, they like the sport, but frankly, they like the action. People are drawn to the possibility that there might be a crash, that there might be injuries, that the element of risk is inherent to what makes NASCAR so exciting.

PINE: Well, I disagree with that. I think fans come to NASCAR, A, because we have a close competitive product, 25 to 30 lead changes, it's exciting, and we have drivers and entertainers that appeal to everyone across America.

So, you know, NASCAR certainly is exciting, but at the end of the day, it's the passing and the competition on the track that separates NASCAR from other sports.

LIN: So as you go into more research, you beef up your research facility, you are looking into safety devices, are you asking specific questions of the scientists and researchers? What is it that you are really trying to find out? And how do you hope to implement any change, if any?

PINE: Oh, absolutely. We announced -- Mike Helton announced yesterday that we have engaged Dr. Melvin and Dr. Raddin to do a restraint study that will look into street belt -- seat belt strengths, look into the adjusters on the seat belt, and also look at various forms of insulation with regard to seat belts.

Also, we have a team of people that we are engaging back in our tech center to look at the wide range of safety issues as they relate to the race cars that include occupant restraint and energy management.

LIN: Mr. Pine, do you think any of these things would have been considered if Dale Earnhardt had not died?

PINE: Well, absolutely. When you look at -- we announced our tech center in January of this year, we purchased the property, we announced that we were going to have an R&D center. These commitments and this vision were laid out by Mike Helton well in advance of the Daytona 500.

LIN: Any regrets as to how NASCAR handled the initial investigation?

PINE: I think you always want to strive to do things as best we can, but at the end of the day, NASCAR laid out an incredible report by credible experts. And it was certainly one of the most thorough investigations in the history of U.S. motor sports.

LIN: George Pine, senior vice president of NASCAR, thanks for joining us this morning.

PINE: Thank you, Carol. Thank you.

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