The HANS was invented nearly 20 years ago by Dr. Robert Hubbard,
professor of biomechanical engineering at Michigan State
University. Hubbard developed the HANS during a conversation with Jim
Downing, his brother-in-law. Downing is a road racer who has won many
endurance events. Between Hubbard and Downing, they realized that many
injuries in racing were due to a lack of head restraint.
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Michael Andretti wearing HANS Photo: Eric Crowder,
Motorsport.com
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When a race car makes
contact with a wall, it comes to a sudden
stop. The laws of physics will keep the head and body hurtling in the
direction of the impact until the torso and shoulders are stopped by the
safety restraints. However, the head continues forward. When the head
hyperextends to the degree caused by the violent accident, the fragile
bottom of the rear of the skull cracks from stress, destroying nerve
cells that control life functions, cutting arteries and causing blood
loss. This type of injury is known as basal skull fracture according to
trauma experts.
Basal skull fractures and similar injuries caused by violent head
movement have been the most common cause of death among race drivers
over the past 10 years. The HANS has been available to drivers in all
forms of racing since 1991. Hubbard believes that the safety restraint
could have been in widespread use a lot faster with more concerted
effort and funding.
"The HANS device isn't my day job," says Hubbard, who continued to teach
full time in the engineering and medical schools at Michigan State while
he developed the HANS in his spare time at his own expense. "We'd go for
months or years without really doing anything" to further refinement.
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Andretti taking HANS off. Photo: Eric Crowder, Motorsport.com
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For the 2001, CART
will require the HANS in its oval-track events.
Formula One was to require its drivers to wear the HANS
in all races, but they have backed away from that decision.
Also, CART is beginning a study this year to determine precisely what
happens to a driver's brain during a wreck.
The medical examiners' findings for the fatalities of Adam Petty, Tony
Roper, and Kenny Irwin last season were stated as being caused by basal
skull fracture - injuries associated with violent head movement. And
yet at the beginning of the NASCAR season this year, the drivers were
not required to wear the HANS device.
Prior to the start of the 2001 NASCAR season, Ford Motor Co. held
a safety seminar for the Ford drivers. The seminar was held in
conjunction with the test sessions at Daytona International Speedway.
Most of the drivers left the seminar amazed by the evidence which showed
the amount of punishment their bodies take during a crash.
The Ford drivers were informed that the HANS device probably could
have saved seven of the eight racing fatalities during the past 10
NASCAR seasons. Engineers from both Ford and GM have tried to encourage
NASCAR drivers to wear the HANS since Irwin's death. Ford, GM and
DaimlerChrysler offered to pay the $1,275 for the HANS for their
drivers. Prior to the Daytona 500, 21 had committed to wear the device
during the race; however the rest remained uncertain.
One reason that many NASCAR drivers have not actively pursued the wearing
of the HANS is that the device was considered too bulky and confining
for drivers to wear. Many NASCAR drivers say the HANS is too confining.
They are worried that the HANS may solve one problem but may create
others, such as limiting their ability to look around them or hindering
quick exit from cars in emergencies such as fire.
Part of the problem is that NASCAR has not taken an active role in the
development of the HANS. Thanks to research by Mercedes-Benz, General
Motors and Ford, the HANS has been refined into smaller, more practical
version.
NASCAR driver Brett Bodine has found "no negatives about it." Bodine
has worn the HANS since July, 2000.
His brother, Todd stated (after the Ford seminar) "I didn't realize you
could move that much in a crash, you see these dummies in the video
wearing the same five-point belts [as the drivers do], and they're
moving all over the place. It makes you realize we've got to do more to
protect ourselves."
Other drivers who wore the HANS for the Daytona 500 were Jeff Burton,
Dale Jarrett, rookie Andy Houston, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Craven, and Kyle
Petty who stated; "Somebody offers us something that's instantly better,
and we don't use it - what does that say about us as drivers?"
On the other side of the coin were Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin.
According to Schrader: "I'm just comfortable with my stuff." And Marlin
voiced his opinion; "It just restricts your movement so much."
Both Petty and B. Bodine have worn the HANS since July of last year and
they answered their co-drivers with the following comments:
"That's it - you're just `comfortable,' " Petty said. "Everybody
hates change. But what drivers don't seem to understand is that it's
adjustable. That's the thing with these people who've tried it on once
and have never gone back to it."
"You can adjust those tethers, and then you can move your head as
far (to either side) as you want," Bodine said. "I've worn it for more
than six months, and I've had no problems with it at all. I haven't run
so much as a single practice lap without it."
"A lot of people have them, but that doesn't mean they're going to
use them," Petty said. "They are hard to get used to."
Petty characterized driver complaints about discomfort, restricted head
movement and limitations on peripheral vision as "just weak excuses for
not wanting to try something."
On February 18, 2001, NASCAR lost a legend when Dale Earnhardt died from
a Basal Skull Fracture. Would the HANS device have saved the life of
Earnhardt, that will be the subject of debate for many years. However,
Earnhardt died of the specific injury that this device was designed to
prevent.
[Due to the extent of his injuries, the HANS may not have saved the life of Earnhardt. But he would not
have died of a Basal Skull Fracture. The device is still a safety
improvement that will save the lives of present and future race car
drivers. - eds]
And in this writer's opinion, had Earnhardt been wearing it, he would be
recuperating from injuries sustained during the accident and may have
been able to start the race at Rockingham.
But instead, I have to say "Good-bye to a man who was a racer and a hero
both on and off the track."
-nancys@motorsport.com
For more photos of the HANS device, see iPa Network affliate
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