Just posted to the front page of ESPN
http://espn.go.com/rpm/wc/2001/0821/1242203.html
Not too much new information. It does mention NASCAR implementing a "black box" to monitor crashes to improve safety.
Some interesting additional notes:
Dr. James Raddin, a director with San Antonio-based Biodynamic Research Corp., said he found the broken belt during his study and ruled out that is was cut by rescue workers as they tried to remove Earnhardt from the battered car.
"The physical evidence is clear," said Raddin, who showed a blown up photo of Earnhardt's seat belt. "This was not a cutting of a belt afterward. This was a belt that separated under load."
Raddin attributed the break to a phenomenon called "dumping," which is when the webbing is pulled or moved to one side of the adjustment device through which the belt webbing travels.
When a dumped belt is under stress, it can separate and tear across the entire webbing.
Raddin concluded that the dumping was not caused by driver adjustment because the marks on the left lap belt showed it was tightened in a symmetrical fashion.
A second investigator, Dr. Dean Sicking of the University of Nebraska, found that the car was traveling between 157-160 mph when it hit the Turn 4 wall.
http://espn.go.com/rpm/wc/2001/0821/1242203.html
Not too much new information. It does mention NASCAR implementing a "black box" to monitor crashes to improve safety.
Some interesting additional notes:
Dr. James Raddin, a director with San Antonio-based Biodynamic Research Corp., said he found the broken belt during his study and ruled out that is was cut by rescue workers as they tried to remove Earnhardt from the battered car.
"The physical evidence is clear," said Raddin, who showed a blown up photo of Earnhardt's seat belt. "This was not a cutting of a belt afterward. This was a belt that separated under load."
Raddin attributed the break to a phenomenon called "dumping," which is when the webbing is pulled or moved to one side of the adjustment device through which the belt webbing travels.
When a dumped belt is under stress, it can separate and tear across the entire webbing.
Raddin concluded that the dumping was not caused by driver adjustment because the marks on the left lap belt showed it was tightened in a symmetrical fashion.
A second investigator, Dr. Dean Sicking of the University of Nebraska, found that the car was traveling between 157-160 mph when it hit the Turn 4 wall.
