AUGUST 4, 2006

More on Da Matta

Cristiano da Matta is in a critical condition after brain surgery in hospital in Wisconsin after an accident in testing at the Road America circuit at Elkhart Lake. The Brazilian suffered head injuries when he hit a deer that had got onto the race track from the woods beside the track. The accident happened between turns five and six and eyewitness reports suggest that the Champ Car hit the animal with its right front wheel. The carcass of the deer then hit the driver and the car went off into the tyre barriers at Turn 6. Rescue crews were on the scene immediately and Da Matta was extracted from the car and flown by helicopter to the Theda Clark Memorial Hospital in nearby Neenah where he underwent emergency surgery.

It remains to be seen if there is any permanent damage.