It does not specifically explain why the results won't be available for four months. The release stated that such time-consuming testing would delay results until the summer. Melvin and Tom Gideon, manager of safety for General Motors, both said that crash tests take time. A facility has to be contracted. Gideon said it was unlikely GM would do such testing because it is busy crash-testing its production cars.
Instruments have to be set up throughout the vehicle in a crash test and then studied afterward.
If the results are different than expected, more crash-testing is needed and the process begins again. FAA investigations are detailed and take months to complete. Some drivers have complained that new rules meant to bunch the field closer than before were a factor that led to Earnhardt's crash. The series is off this weekend before competing at Talladega on April 22. Plain and simple, I'm behind them,'' said Kyle Petty.