Crash with a deer hospitalizes da matta.(Competition)

As AutoWeek goes to press Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta, the 2002 series champion, continues to recover from a head injury he suffered Aug. 3 when his RuSport Lola collided with a deer near Turn Six at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Da Matta remained in a medically induced coma in the intensive care unit at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisconsin.

After the crash da Matta, 32, was airlifted to the hospital, where surgeons repaired an acute subdural hematoma. As a former triathlete, doctors credit the Brazilian's excellent physical condition as a reason for optimism.

Chris Pinderski, Champ Car's director of medical affairs, said after the surgery that additional scans showed "no further bleeding, but Cristiano does have some cerebral edema, which is swelling of the brain itself. This is common with significant head injuries and was expected in this situation. His condition has stabilized but he will remain under heavy sedation as his recovery process continues.''

Da Matta struck the deer while driving on the first day of a two-day Road America test session in preparation for Champ Car's Sept. 24 race at the four-mile road course. Telemetry suggests da Matta was traveling at less than 100 mph when he hit the deer, which struck the cockpit. The car was not substantially damaged.

Da Matta's RuSport teammate Justin Wilson did not participate in the second day of testing, nor did Forsythe drivers Paul Tracy and A.J. Allmendinger. Forsythe withdrew out of respect for da Matta, but also for safety concerns. Deer and other wildlife have been spotted regularly at the rural Road America track, despite high fences that surround the circuit.

Deer and race car collisions are rare, but not unheard of. Stefan Johansson hit a deer in his Formula One car 20 years ago at the old Osterreichring circuit in Austria, but was not injured. Four years ago 22-year-old kart racer David Smith struck a deer at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia at 90 mph while leading a race, and was killed.

While da Matta's long-term prognosis is hopeful, the driver is undoubtedly out for the rest of 2006. RuSport says Wilson will race in Denver, but da Matta's car will not. The team expects to field the car with a replacement driver for the four races after Denver.