Official Earnhardt report released.

In front of a packed Media Centre in Atlanta, NASCAR President Mike Helton and a panel of medical research experts officially concluded their near-six month report following the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona this year revealing that Earnhardt's broken seatbelt was only one of several causes of the seven time Winston Cup Champion's death.

More than six months have passed since the tragic death of seven time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt during the final lap of this year's Daytona 500 at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway and after a lengthy, exhaustive and expensive investigation, NASCAR finally announced their findings on Tuesday in Atlanta.

NASCAR President Mike Helton, Dr James Raddin of the Biodynamic Research Corporation and Dr Dean Sicking of the Midwest Roadside Safety facility concluded that the seat-belt of Earnhardt's famous black No.3 Chevrolet did break during the accident, which occurred on the final corner of the season opening event, but also stated that a number of other factors were present in the fatal crash.

The first major talking point put to bed was that Earnhardt was killed instantly following a blunt force to the head resulting in a fracture to the base of Earnhardt's skull. This view opposed earlier speculation that Earnhardt's death was whiplash related.

NASCAR confirmed that Earnhardt's head also hit the steering wheel of his car at least once as he and Ken Schrader hit the outside wall in turn four at speeds approaching 150mph and the involvement of Schrader in the crash, although completely unavoidable, was also significant in Earnhardt's death.

Dr Sicking looked to the tyre marks at the crash scene to elaborate. "The tyre marks evident clearly indicates that the severity of the No.3 cars impact with the barrier was significantly different [to Schrader's]. Just a two or three degree change in trajectory angle creates a 25 per cent increase in the energy that must be dissipated during the barrier impact. That's quite a substantial difference."

Sicking also added that there was a "significantly more severe hit for the No.3 car."

The announcement also explained that Earnhardt's seat belt did break with Dr Raddin pointing to some of the abrasions found on Earnhardt's body as key evidence. "Dale Earnhardt moved forward into a separated belt which could not have occurred unless the belt separated under load," he stated.

Helton reiterated the work NASCAR has been and continues to undertake regarding the improvement of safety saying; "We're committed to accelerating the evolution of safety within this great sport through continued collaborative efforts using the best minds and the best technology we can find whenever and wherever we can find it."

There will also be some major changes to the Winston Cup Series next year with a new crash data recorder (black box) becoming mandatory for all cars from the start of next year and the introduction of a NASCAR Research and Development centre based in Hickory, North Carolina at the heart of the Winston Cup community.

Head and Neck safety devices (HANS) will not be made compulsory next year as had been expected but NASCAR will strongly encourage their use with Helton saying "we [NASCAR] have intensified our efforts with drivers, equipment manufacturers and the outside experts with the goal of helping all drivers find a system which they feel comfortable and safe with."

The thorough, difficult and sometimes emotional presentation should give everyone sufficient closure on what has been a painful experience for all involved with the case. With the fact that one of the greatest Champions of all time is no longer with us still ringing clear in our minds, people can now move on and let time become a natural healer and allow the sport which Earnhardt helped make great move on and improve in his memory.