Info I've picked up: Holding the steering wheel in a crash some say not to do this as you can damage your wrist and hand by doing this. Not always possible in a crash, you may pass out. Learn to drive with your thumbs on top of the steering wheel. When you bang wheels and you will and it’s your front wheels your steering wheel can get whipped around and the cross braces can break or severely damage your thumbs. In a crash and about to hit something hard keep your hands off your belts and the racecar framework. A sprint car in a flip end over end and changing directions (90mph / 60deg) can pull up to 14G’s. An average male arm weighs 20lbs, now figure 14G’s X 20 lbs = 280 pound mass. Now figure in Newton’s 2nd Law which is Force = Mass X Acceleration. Example multiply distance from lap to end of out stretched arm = 1680 pounds of mass when that arm reaches the end of that restraint. Jim Diest suggest pads be used to spread load on your arm and fastened around forearm just below elbow to prevent from sliding up. 1” Straps are not enough; a driver had a bicep muscle torn in a flip. Speculation: small straps wrapped around arm above elbow and as drivers’ arm stretched up the arm strap moved causing this injury. A driver had the restraints sewn in suit just above arms and the D-rings outside suit the crash resulted in separated shoulder. Do not use restraints where the rings are pressed together, pressed together D-rings will fail very easily; rings should be beefy and welded together. An un-welded ring failed at 87½-pound pull. Use restraints with heavy duty snap on type attachment, still not best but will do, replace as needed. Keep short enough to keep arms inside cockpit in crash but long enough to steer properly. Check to be sure they do not snag your harness release.
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Sounds like I ranted & raved a litle but it's your life, all the info above I've gathered over the years.