ChampCar: Da Matta hospitalized after colliding with deer

[Galaxy]

Da Matta hospitalized after colliding with deer


ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (AP) - Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta needed surgery to remove a ruptured blood vessel in his head after his race car collided with a deer that wandered onto the track during a test session at Road America on Thursday.

Da Matta was unconscious when he was airlifted to Theda Clark Memorial Hospital in Neenah after the crash, and remained unconscious as of Thursday night, Champ Car series spokesman Steve Shunck said.
Champ Car Director of Medical Affairs Dr. Chris Pinderski said a CT scan at the hospital showed that da Matta had a subdural hematoma.

"He was urgently taken to the operating room for surgical removal of the hematoma and is now being observed in the intensive care unit," Pinderski said.

The RuSport team said updates concerning da Mattas condition will be released when they become available.

The 32-year-old Da Matta has 12 career Champ Car victories - including four straight wins in his championship season of 2002, tying a series record.

A native of Brazil, da Matta left Champ Car after winning the championship and drove for the Toyota team in the elite Formula One series in 2003 and 2004. In 28 starts, he finished a career-best sixth in three races.

Da Matta returned to Champ Car last year to win a race at Portland and tie for 11th in the standings. He is sixth in the standings this season after finishing second in Sunday's race in San Jose, Calif.

Da Matta began the season with Dale Coyne Racing, then moved to RuSport team at midseason after A.J. Allmendinger was fired.

"It's great to get this result because I admit there have been some times when I wondered if it was going to happen again," da Matta said Sunday. "Now that pressure is off and I can focus on making the car better and becoming a consistent threat for podiums and top-fives the rest of the way."

Da Matta is single and lives in Miami.

RuSport also announced Thursday that Justin Wilson, da Matta's teammate, would not participate in the final day of Road America test on Friday.

The Champ Car series races at Road America on Sept. 24.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/stor...0?FSO1&ATT=HMA

[Wolfpack]

I had thought about posting this with a thread title along the lines of "Road Kill in an Unusual Place", but given the serious nature of the injuries, I didn't think it was appropriate.

I do wonder what happened to the deer in a 200-mph collision. I'm reasonably certain it felt nothing.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

I had thought about posting this with a thread title along the lines of "Road Kill in an Unusual Place", but given the serious nature of the injuries, I didn't think it was appropriate.

It wouldn't have been any more inappropriate than SI's original title for their article.... "Oh deer".

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

It wouldn't have been any more inappropriate than SI's original title for their article.... "Oh deer".

They put that?

[Wasabiak]

Originally Posted by TheLionKing

It wouldn't have been any more inappropriate than SI's original title for their article.... "Oh deer".

Unreal........I'm speechless.

[TLK]

yeah... that was the title of the SI story. I'm guessing it was altered after enough folks bitched. Anyways, here is the latest....

http://www.rusport.com/news/read/cr...njury#read_more

Cristiano da Matta Continues to Recover from Serious Head Injury
August 4, 2006
Champ Car driver remains in intensive care after collision with deer at Road America
LOVELAND, Colo., Aug. 4, 2006, 3:20 pm EDT – Champ Car World Series driver Cristiano da Matta (#10 RuSPORT Ford-Cosworth / Lola / Bridgestone) is continuing to recover at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisc. Da Matta collided with a deer that had run onto the track near Turn Six at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., yesterday afternoon.

Dr. Chris Pinderski, Champ Car director of Medical Affairs, released the following statement from the hospital: “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.”

Updates concerning da Matta’s condition will be released when they become available.

RuSPORT has also announced that it has withdrawn the No. 10 RuSPORT Champ Car from competition in the Grand Prix of Denver, which will take place on Sunday, Aug. 13. Da Matta’s teammate, Justin Wilson (#9 CDW / RuSPORT Ford-Cosworth / Lola / Bridgestone) will compete in the Grand Prix of Denver as scheduled.

In response to numerous inquiries made by da Matta’s friends and fans, RuSPORT has also announced that, in lieu of sending flowers and gifts, anyone wishing to express their support for da Matta during his recovery is asked to please make a donation in his name to Hole in the Wall Camps, an official charity of the Champ Car World Series. Donation information can be found by visiting http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org, or by calling 203-562-1203.

[Craptacular]

I wonder if part of that deer landed in my parents' yard.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by Craptacular

I wonder if part of that deer landed in my parents' yard.

You going to be around when CC races (Sept 22-24)? I'm almost sure I'll be there to see what could be the final CC race at RA.

[Craptacular]

I'm thinking about it, but probably will not be able to. My wife is most likely going to be on bedrest by then, which means I'll have little chance to go anywhere.