Competition.

Da Matta to F1?

* Not so fast.

Reports from Europe claim Cristiano da Matta, CART points-leader and current hot property, has closed a deal to drive one of Toyota's Formula One cars next season. Da Matta is certainly a front-runner to replace Allan McNish, and for good reason. He's been affiliated with Toyota since he entered CART from Indy Lights, and he had an excellent test with the manufacturer's F1 team in May (AW, May 13). More to the point, he has taken advantage of CART's best ride this season at Newman-Haas Racing and delivered with five victories and a large lead in the championship.

Yet sources at Newman-Haas and Toyota in North America say there's no deal to put da Matta in an F1 car next season, and if there's going to be a deal it's still a ways off. For starters, da Matta is under contract to Newman-Haas through 2003, and owner Carl Haas isn't about to give him up cheaply. At this point Haas is still telling potential sponsors that da Matta will be driving his car next season. Stay tuned.

Frentzen leaves Arrows

* Heinz-Harald Frentzen has left the troubled Arrows Formula One team. Arrows CEO Tom Walkinshaw said, ``Heinz told us that, because of the uncertainty at the team, he wished to stand down, and we don't want to stand in his way.'' Frentzen, 35, asked for the release so that he would be free to negotiate with other teams. He has several offers, including one from Jordan, whose main sponsor is German company Deutsche Post. Frentzen may even return to Jordan this season, because there are strong suggestions that the team is considering ``resting'' its Japanese rookie, Takuma Sato. Alternatively, Frentzen is still available to Arrows on a race-by-race basis but, while negotiations continue over the presumed sale of the team, it is expected to find a paying-driver replacement for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Aug. 18. French Formula 3000 star Sebastien Bourdais, who impressed Jordan in a recent test, is the most likely candidate.

Tracy moves, but stays