'Black boxes' to be mandated

By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
August 21, 2001
8:11 PM EDT (0011 GMT)

ATLANTA -- To further assist their efforts in garnering information during crashes, NASCAR plans to mandate the use of “black boxes,” highly technical data recording systems that provide in-depth information during collisions, by Speedweeks 2002.

These boxes have long been used in investigations into airplane crashes.

“We are committing to the installation of crash data recorders by the beginning of next season,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said.

Mike Helton

“Such devices will help drivers, owners and manufacturers and NASCAR study the impact effect of drivers in cars. In the meantime, we're working with the industry on the details to make that a reality.”

Also, NASCAR plans to employ a full-time medical liason that is aware of the driver’s medical histories to work with local medical teams and a full-time accident analyst. Helton said those individuals should be in place by next February.

“We currently work with track operators to provide the best local doctors licensed to practice medicine in their jurisdictions on the NASCAR circuits,” Helton said. “This is a good system. Since these doctors are intimately familiar with the local hospitals and the medical resources and have regular and extensive experience dealing with serious trauma cases.

“But to enhance this system, we're in the process of hiring a qualified person to serve as a full-time liaison who will be knowledgeable about the drivers' medical histories and will coordinate with those local physicians. We expect to have someone in place by the beginning of the 2002 season.”