Data tracks are written across a width of a tape by positioning a first head section across the tape and writing a first subset of data tracks onto the tape with a first plurality of write elements on the first head section. A second head section is positioned across the tape separately from the first head. A second subset of data tracks is written onto the tape with a second plurality of write elements on the second head section so that the second subset is interleaved with the first subset. A third head section is positioned across the tape separately from the first head and the second head. The first subset and second subsets are read with a plurality of read elements on the third head section to verify that data was correctly written onto the tape.