Governing body acts on safety

NASCAR has encouraged drivers to wear head and neck restraints following a string of fatal crashes at its races, including one that killed seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt at Daytona in February. A majority of drivers in all three series currently wear the devices, but the wearing of them will now be compulsory.

NASCAR addressed other safety issues on Wednesday, including the testing of accident data recorders and the development of new barrier technology with the Indy Racing Northern Lights Series.

On a regular basis, 42 of the 43 Winston Cup drivers voluntarily wear one of the two devices currently on the market. The lone driver who does not wear one is Tony Stewart, who doesn't feel comfortable wearing one behind the wheel.

"It took me time to get comfortable to wearing the device and also understand the way it works," said three-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon. "I do think that it is now the right time. I am a true, true believer in them."

So too is Jeff Burton, a Ford driver who is very safety conscious and is in favour of giving the drivers and teams as much information as possible so the competitors can make an educated decision.

"I really wish that NASCAR didn't have to do something like this where they had to mandate drivers to wear a safety device," said Burton. "People should take the initiative to try and make it safer for themselves, and I hate that we've had to come to this where NASCAR has to make it mandatory."