Restraint devices will not be required

By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
August 21, 2001
8:12 PM EDT (0012 GMT)

ATLANTA -- Although the organization has announced plans to use "black box" recorders in race cars beginning in 2002, NASCAR will not mandate the use of head and neck restraint systems --such as the HANS and Hutchens devices -- at this time.

Some 75 percent of Winston Cup pilots wear such devices currently, and NASCAR doesn’t feel it is its duty to require drives to wear them.

“NASCAR has for some time recommended the use of head and neck restraints,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said. “We've also urged drivers to talk to Dr. (Jim Melvin, head and neck restraint expert) about the benefits of these systems.

“We're pleased that a majority of Winston Cup drivers now use them, but we're not completely satisfied. So we've intensified our efforts with drivers, equipment manufacturers and the outside experts with the goal of helping all drivers find a system which they feel comfortable and safe with.”

Helton is adamant that NASCAR won’t rest on its laurels just because the most intensive investigation in the organization’s 53 years is complete, and that they will continue to do everything in their power to assure the utmost in driver safety in the future.

“We will continue to aggressively pursue any legitimate safety enhancement opportunity. Importantly, as with other safety initiatives, we've implemented, we will not rush to fix one thing without fully understanding the unintended consequences in other areas. “We're committed to accelerating the evolution of safety within this great sport through continued collaborative efforts using the best minds and the best technology we can find whenever and wherever we can find it.