GM Racing statement on the Earnhardt Report

The following statement may be attributable to Herb Fishel, executive director of GM Racing. General Motors remains a willing and determined partner with NASCAR regarding driver safety. Though we had no role in the Dale Earnhardt investigation, we ...

The following statement may be attributable to Herb Fishel, executive director of GM Racing.

General Motors remains a willing and determined partner with NASCAR regarding driver safety. Though we had no role in the Dale Earnhardt investigation, we remain committed to the broader role of working with NASCAR and the other participating auto manufacturers toward improving driver safety in NASCAR specifically and all racing in general.

Overall safety in racing has been improving. We remain committed to the belief that the greatest opportunity to help protect drivers is to continuously improve the driver's compartment. Through the availability of emerging technologies, we will continue to develop and advocate the use of head and neck restraints, rigid seating with head and shoulder support, six-point harnesses and full-face helmets.

We also are extremely pleased with NASCAR's decision to move forward with impact data recorders on all its racecars in 2002. GM, who pioneered the use of these recorders in race vehicles beginning with the 1993 Indianapolis 500, believes the availability of this type of data greatly improves the reliability and effectiveness of accurately assessing the current racecars in a collective effort to improve safety across all competing brands.