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The death of race car driver Tim Richmond, who died last week after a long illness, was the result of complications of AIDS, according to a statement released yesterday by Richmond's doctor. Richmond, 34, died Aug. 13 in Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. At the request of the family, the cause of death was not disclosed until yesterday's statement by David W. Dodson. The statement read: "The family of Tim Richmond has asked me to release the following information about his death in the hopes that this information will save others from having to endure the suffering Tim experienced. "Tim died of complications of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which he contracted through heterosexual contact. We would like to dispel any rumors -- as absolutely untrue -- that he contracted the disease through intravenous drug use, homosexual encounter or a blood transfusion." In a telephone interview from his West Palm Beach office, Dodson said: "It was a process of elimination. There are only certain ways you can contract the HIV infection. Tim did not do drugs, he was not homosexual and he had not had a blood transfusion." Richmond was diagnosed as having AIDS in 1986. Dodson said Richmond was feeling well until a January motorcycle accident in which he suffered a concussion and cerebral contusion. Richmond became widely known in the racing world when a ninth-place finish in the 1980 Indianapolis 500 earned him rookie of the year honors. In his Winston Cup career, Richmond won 13 races and $2,228,558. He missed the first 11 races of the 1987 season after being hospitalized for pneumonia at the Cleveland Clinic, where the AIDS diagnosis was made, said Dodson. Richmond returned to racing late in the 1987 season and won the first race of his comeback at Pocono (Pa.) International Raceway. He won again the following week at Riverside, Calif., but left his racing team six races later, citing health reasons. Richmond's career ended when NASCAR suspended him before the 1988 season, saying he failed a drug test. The test showed excessive amounts of two non-prescription medications. Though he passed a second test and was reinstated, he would not release his hospital records and did not race again. His last race was in August 1987. A memorial fund has been set up in Richmond's name to benefit AIDS research, Dodson said.

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