Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Drag racer Dixon has long been sold on HANS

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 9:42 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand's motor sports notebook appears Friday. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Larry Dixon didn't need to see the accident that claimed Dale Earnhardt's life last month to realize the need for added safety measures in auto racing.

And it didn't take the resulting emphasis on the HANS device for the NHRA Top Fuel driver to put in his order for one of the head and neck restraint systems.

Dixon, who walked away from a horrific crash last October in Memphis, wasted no time in becoming one of the first NHRA drivers to order a HANS device. Dixon has worn the device for the past two events and said he doesn't plan to get in the Miller Lite Dragster again without it.

Because the HANS device originally was designed for drivers of open-wheel cars, Dixon had to have one of the devices custom built.

"The only reason why I haven't worn it sooner is because it doesn't fit the way it should in our car, so I had to custom order one and I had been waiting since the Houston race last fall (to have it delivered)," said Dixon, who took delivery of the device and began wearing it two days before Earnhardt's fatal crash.

"It fit perfectly and it only took a couple of runs to get used to. By race day (Sunday), I forgot it was even on. Some drivers complain that it's harder to get in and out of a car with it on but I say it's no different than a helmet: You can get out of a car easier with your helmet off but are you going to race without it?"

The HANS device isn't the only safety improvement Dixon has implemented this season. Dixon became the first NHRA driver to wear a new 6-point harness at the season opener in Pomona.

"Was there anything wrong with the five-point harness? No, but if the six-point harness is better, why not use it?" Dixon said.

"I really like all the safety stuff. It lets me drive over my head and come out OK. That's why I use thicker gloves than anyone else (and) that's why my fire suit has one layer more than everyone else's. Am I paranoid? No, but I don't want to have to worry about anything when I am in the car. All the safety devices I use let me focus on driving and if I do get into trouble, they do all the work for me."

The NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series visits The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway April 5-8 for the first of two events this year.

The crew chiefs for Kurt Busch and Stacy Compton were fined and suspended by NASCAR after a preliminary inspection before the Atlanta race revealed that both drivers' shoulder harnesses did not carry the proper dated tags. Crew chiefs Matt Chambers (Busch) and Chad Knaus (Compton) were fined $5,000 and suspended for two races. Knaus issued a statement in which he said he will appeal the penalties. ...

Las Vegas Motor Speedway officials have amended the penalty assessed to Legends Car driver Spencer Clark following a bumping incident with Kyle Busch following a race earlier this month at The Bullring. Clark's one-race suspension has been reduced to a $500 fine but his one-year probation will stand.

Andretti will join CART regulars Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves (Marlboro Team Penske) and Bruno Junqueira and Nicolas Minassian (Target/Chip Ganassi Racing) at Indy.

Hamilton, founder of the SRL, won the series' season opener last weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7.

"I'm excited to have the number one on the Team Winston Suzuki, but it's definitely a different feeling than ever before," Savoie said. "I don't feel any different personally, but there is the sense that everyone is gunning for me now."

Gaughan, competing in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race of the season, finished a career-best third on Saturday, then drove his NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet to a third-place finish in Sunday's NASCAR Winston West race.

In Saturday's SCORE San Felipe 250 in Mexico, Tim and Ed Herbst captured both the overall and Trophy Truck titles for the third consecutive year. Other class winners from Southern Nevada included Rob MacCachren (Class 1-2/1600) and Jimmy Stephensen (ATV Class 25).