ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta's condition has
stabilized but he remains in intensive care with a head injury after a collision
with a deer at Road America.
Multiple CT scans reveal no further bleeding in his head but there is
swelling of the brain as doctors expected, said Dr. Chris Pinderski, Champ Car
World Series director of medical affairs.
"His condition has stabilized but he will remain under heavy sedation as his
recovery process continues," Pinderski said Saturday in a statement.
The deer 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, Champ Car series spokesman Steve Shunck
said.
Da Matta had to have surgery to remove a ruptured blood vessel in his head
after the accident
The collision was "a completely freaky thing," Road America media director
Julie Sebranek said Friday.
An 8-foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire circles the 628-acre Road
America property, which is surrounded by wooded terrain and farm fields.
When asked how the deer got onto the property, Sebranek said, "They have been
known to jump the 8-foot fences."
The 32-year-old Da Matta a native of Brazil who lives in Miami, has 12 career
Champ Car victories, including four straight wins in his championship season of
2002 to tie a series record.
After competing in Formula One during 2003 and 2004, he returned to Champ Car
last year and tied for 11th in the standings. He is sixth in the standings this
season after finishing second in last Sunday's race in San Jose, Calif.
RuSPORT said Saturday da Matta's teammate, Justin Wilson, will compete in the
Grand Prix of Denver Sunday, Aug. 13 as scheduled.
