This month, Bob Hubbard was a familiar presence around the garage at Daytona. Never before have so many drivers worn the device, which was used in several races last year. Two plastic flaps fit snugly against the upper torso, connected by a piece that wraps around the neck. Two small straps attach the device to the driver's helmet. It's so simple that when I explain it to grade-school children, they understand.
Many drivers complain that the device is too cumbersome and bulky for a comfortable ride.
Hubbard and his partner, Jim Downing, have made significant strides in reducing the size, but some drivers are still reluctant to make the necessary adjustments inside their seats, harness and headrests. You're probably a darn fool if you don't wear one. But it's got to be second nature. For Lajoie, it's not. He can run only a few laps before the collar begins to annoy him, distracting him from more important matters.