Earnhardt’s Helmet: A doctor who tried to save Dale Earnhardt’s life testified this week that he wanted to inspect the stock-car driver’s helmet to help get the “big picture” of how he died but NASCAR officials said they didn’t have it. Dr. Steve Bohannon, an emergency room doctor who works part-time at Daytona International Speedway, also said no one asked him to look at Earnhardt’s autopsy photos. But after going to see them, he reported his findings to NASCAR President Mike Helton. Bohannon said he was paid $3,200 to cover lost hospital wages during a trip to North Carolina where he viewed Earnhardt’s car — four days after the driver’s death Feb. 18 during the Daytona 500. He said NASCAR showed him a “very stretched and stressed” seatbelt in the car. One day later, he attended a press conference where NASCAR officials said the belt had failed.( Full story at the Orlando Sentinel)(6-9-2001)
