NASCAR safety.

Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett became the first driver to speak out at length on the issues involved in NASCAR's investigation into the fatal accident of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.

The 1999 Winston Cup champion said he believes a separated seatbelt occurred due to installation issues, not a manufacturing problem. But he also believes the broken belt had little to do with Earnhardt's death.

``Did the seatbelt break? Yes, it broke,'' said Jarrett. ``I saw the belt myself. I know that did happen. Did that create the death? I never believed in my mind that was what created Dale's death. I think we'll see that and that will come out.''

Jarrett spoke after winning the pole at Watkins Glen in the wake of a report in the Orlando Sentinel regarding NASCAR's investigation. Citing unnamed sources, the article stated NASCAR's report will confirm Earnhardt's death resulted from a basal skull fracture from head whip before any problems with the seatbelts.

Jarrett said he believes the installation was the problem with the seatbelt on Earnhardt's Richard Childress Racing Chevy.

The opinion of Jarrett is radically different from that of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has indicated the broken ribs and a mark on his father's chin meant the separated belt and his head striking the steering wheel led to his death. Earnhardt Jr. is one of about 25 percent of the field who still does not wear a head restraint in Winston Cup events, and is the only driver to continue wearing an open-face helmet like his father.

That's a mistake, according to Jarrett, who said his crashes at Talladega and Pocono earlier this year were hard enough to cause serious injury had it not been for the HANS device, which requires a full-face helmet. ``Me wearing the HANS device and the other guys that I've talked to who have had hard hits say the same thing: Right now, the HANS is the best thing that we have and I encourage the rest of the guys to get a HANS device.''