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Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Cristiano da Matta Still in Critical ConditionBy Anne Proffit
Cristiano da Matta’s terrible run-in with an errant deer on the Road America circuit could have happened anywhere. The “deer crossing” signs are everywhere in the area – as are moose crossing indicators – and it’s not terribly unusual to see deer romping around the roadways abutting Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Da Matta was testing for Champ Car’s September 24th date at the 4.048-mile natural road course that is every racer’s favorite circuit. Road America has it all on the track and, unfortunately for Cristiano, one of the fauna who occupy that area of the world just happened to be where he was.
It was one of those wrong time, wrong place things. Nothing more, nothing less.
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The run up from turn 5 to the sixth turn (a 90-degree left-hander) at Elkhart Lake is one of those ballsy parts of a track that requires the biggest cojones in the world. Certainly, Shorty has ‘em in spaces. It’s kind of ironic that da Matta had his best finish of the season last Sunday and finest outing with new team RuSPORT on the mean streets of San Jose, earning a hard-fought second place.
He appeared renewed, the Cristiano of old.
Da Matta’s race last weekend looked so similar to the one he performed in his final Miami race on a hot day. That was the race where the boy from Belo Horizonte was crowned champion of the 2002 CART/Champ Car series. He won that Miami race but there was no stopping Sebastien Bourdais last weekend in San Jose and da Matta was plenty pleased to take second, a great turnaround from the start of the season and his best result since winning at Portland with PKV Racing last year.
By now we’ve all read the reports and realize da Matta’s injuries were plenty serious. He’s currently in the critical care unit at Theda Clark Memorial Hospital at Neenah, Wisconsin, with friends at his side and family en route.
When he and the deceased deer made contact, Cristiano was instantly knocked out – after all, the animal weighed several hundred pounds more than he and da Matta was traveling at a huge rate of speed, reportedly in the 130mph neighborhood, about right for that climb.
The incident occurred just at the crest of the hill, shortly before the braking area and da Matta tried to avoid the animal – skidmarks indicate such. RuSPORT data shows he had slowed to 90mph, according to reputable reports. There is a concrete barrier just after the pedestrian crossing bridge at the top of the hill and da Matta slid sideways along it before impacting the tire wall at the turn.
The fabulous Champ Car Safety team were on the spot in well under a minute (unlike the Formula 1 quacks at Indy when Ralf Schumacher crashed in the last turn at Indy a couple of years back) and, rather than sending him to the big yellow bus had da Matta airlifted at once, still in an unconscious state.
Friends from around the world have been in contact and are expected to join comrades already on-site and family at the hospital. RuSPORT, through its spokesman Gary Mason are being very careful with information release because they don’t want to inflame the situation further.
Around 2:30PM Friday afternoon Dr. Chris Pinderski, head of Champ Car’s medical team made this statement: “Cristiano da Matta continues to recover from a serious head injury sustained yesterday during Champ Car open testing at Road America. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Theda Clark Memorial Hospital in Neenah, Wisconsin and is under close observation by the attending neurosurgeons.”
RuSPORT has withdrawn the #10 entry from next weekend’s Denver Grand Prix, the team’s home race. In lieu of flowers and cards, the team and Champ Car have requested that contributions is support of Cristiano da Matta be made in his name to Hole in the Wall Camps at http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org or by calling 203.562.1203. Hole in the Wall Camps are an official charity of the Champ Car World Series.
This type of accident could have happened anywhere and any time to any one of us. Unfortunately, it happened to one of the nicest guys in the business - and confirms the fact that racing is indeed, the “cruel sport.”
We will give more info as it becomes available. Prayers for Cristiano da Matta’s safe and healthy recovery are welcome at any time.
(c) 2006 Anne Proffit
Related Stories
Update Two: Cristiano da Matta Continues to Recover from Serious Head Injury
Da Matta Update: Champ Car Driver Undergoes Surgery After Collision with Deer
Cristiano da Matta Involved in Crash with Deer at Road America, Airlifted to Hospital
PaddockTalk Perspective
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