AUGUST 4, 2006

Da Matta undergoes surgery after collision with deer

Former F1 driver Cristiano da Matta is in intensive care in a hospital in Neenah, Wisconsin, after his Champ Car collided with a deer during a test session at Road America on Thursday. Da Matta was unconscious when he was airlifted to hospital after the crash and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain.

The 32-year-old former Champ Car champion started the season with Dale Coyne Racing but recently moved to the Rusport team, as team mate to another former F1 man Justin Wilson.