AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
CRISTIANO'S COMEBACK; Da Matta races on, two years after a life-threatening crash.(Cristiano da Matta)
Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH
When he talks, the tracheotomy scar on his throat peeks out just above the collar of his T-shirt. It is the only visible hint of what happened to Cristiano da Matta two years ago this month, when a deer ran in front of his Champ Car as he tested at Road America in Wisconsin (Competition, Aug. 14, 2006).
The car's right front tire hit the deer, launching it into the cockpit. Da Matta was unconscious when rescue workers got to him, and once they airlifted him to the hospital, they knew immediately that his head injuries were so severe that he might never wake up. And if he did, the talk was not of the possibility of brain damage but of the probability.
At that point, no one even discussed whether the former Formula One driver and 2002 CART champion would ever again drive a race car. But miracles do happen.
In May, da Matta joined his friend and fellow Champ Car champion Jimmy Vasser in the Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing No. 98 Grand-Am Daytona Prototype to compete at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Driving a car entered by the same team that fields 2007 championship winners Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, da Matta and Vasser led briefly before da Matta's severely upset stomachin no way, he says, related to his injuriessidelined the car. But it did not take long for da Matta to show that he can still drive.
"He can,'' says team owner Bob Stallings. "For his first time back, he did an awesome job. He can't wait to get in a car full-time, and frankly, I can't wait. He's become part of the family.''
With a major sponsor close to signing on, Stallings hoped to put da Matta and a co-driver in the No. 98 for the final four races this year and the full 2009 season. But now that looks unlikely. Da Matta probably will share the No. 99 car with Fogarty and Gurney for the final race of the 2008 season, the Sunchaser 1000K at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah on Sept. 20, with an eye toward running full-time in 2009.
- Champ Car's da Matta remains hospitalized after colliding with deer.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire August 4, 2006 700+ words
...Byline: ARON HELLER Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta remained hospitalized...A native of Brazil, da Matta left Champ Car after winning the championship...sixth in three races. Da Matta returned to Champ Car last year to win a race...
- Former champ Da Matta looking at Champ Car return.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire November 5, 2004 700+ words
...champion Cristiano da Matta hopes to return to the Newman/Haas Champ Car team next year after...to be was here," da Matta said on Friday at...early December. Da Matta said he had spent...organizing Sunday's Champ Car series finale here...
- Source: da Matta back in Champ Car for 2005.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire January 31, 2005 700+ words
...Former series champion Cristiano da Matta is returning to the Champ Car World Series after two seasons...Tuesday, the source said. Da Matta, released midway through 2004...Vasser. The 31-year-old da Matta spent four years in what was...
- Da Matta scores first victory of return to Champ car.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire June 20, 2005 700+ words
...PETERSON Cristiano da Matta cruised to victory in the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland...to Formula One. Da Matta, the 2002 champion of Champ Car, finished 10...electrical trouble. Da Matta, who returned to Champ Car and is now driving...
- Champ Car Da Matta critical after crash.
- News wire article from: UPI NewsTrack August 4, 2006 700+ words
...Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Champ Car World Series driver Cristiano da Matta was in critical condition...into the cockpit, and da Matta smashed into the tire barrier...Wis.) Press reported. Da Matta, who left Champ Car to race for Toyota in Formula...
- Champ Car's Da Matta improving.
- Newspaper article from: Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) September 8, 2006 700+ words
...Terry Blount Sep. 8--Da Matta improving after severe head injury Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta continues to show amazing...America in Wisconsin. Da Matta has regained his ability...past several days," Champ Car medical director Chris...
- Da Matta says he's almost 100 percent healthy.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire November 29, 2006 700+ words
...deer, then it's all a blank," he said. Da Matta has 12 career Champ Car victories, including four straight wins in his championship winning season of 2002. Da Matta left Champ Car after winning the title and drove for the Toyota...
- da Matta back in gear, wins provisional pole.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire June 25, 2005 700+ words
...TOM WITHERS Cristiano da Matta is quickly getting back...After winning his first Champ Car race in three years last weekend, da Matta won the provisional pole...series championship. Da Matta left the Champ Car circuit after 2002 to...
- Da Matta hospitalized after colliding with deer.
- News wire article from: The America's Intelligence Wire August 4, 2006 700+ words
...MARK STEVENSON Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta needed surgery to...Steve Shunck said. Champ Car Director of Medical...hospital showed da Matta had a subdural hematoma...in three races. Da Matta returned to Champ Car last year to win...
- Passionate da Matta's world changes in the blink of an eye.(race car driver...
- News wire article from: Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI) Brudenell, Mike August 8, 2006 700+ words
...Thursday. In 2002, da Matta won the Champ Car title for Newman...efforts in 28 starts. Da Matta, who lives in Miami, returned to Champ Car last year, frustrated...NASCAR. Last year, da Matta, who has 12 Champ Car wins, drove for PKV...
Source: HighBeam Research, CRISTIANO'S COMEBACK; Da Matta races on, two years after a...