SEPTEMBER 14, 2002

Da Matta and Toyota

n recent days there has been talk that Cristiano da Matta might not after all be a Toyota driver in 2002 but our sources say that stories that the deal had fallen out of bed were perhaps a part of the negotiating process rather than a definitive response.

In recent days there has been talk that Cristiano da Matta might not after all be a Toyota driver in 2002 but our sources say that stories that the deal had fallen out of bed were perhaps a part of the negotiating process rather than a definitive response.

We hear that Da Matta will join Toyota and that as part of the pay-off for current team owner Carl Haas the Newman Haas Racing organisation will get Toyota engines in the Indy Racing League next year. This is not confirmed but it makes sense. This would also help to explain the rumours in the F1 paddock at Monza that Felipe Massa does not know what is happening in the future and is not in the running for a Toyota drive.