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Car news / Da Matta aims for May return

27.03.2008

Da Matta aims for May return

Car News / AutoWeek

Former Champ Car champion Cristiano da Matta appears close to returning to competitive racing, 19 months after he was nearly killed in a freak accident during testing at Road America.

The Champ Car and Formula One veteran drove the No. 99 Riley-Pontiac for a test on March 20 at the Eagles Canyon track near Dallas, and said he"s confident he can return later this season for Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing.

"After the test, I realized I still know how to do this, I remember this very well," da Matta said. "The biggest thing I felt after the test was just a sense of relief. For me, it was a big, big relief, bigger than big."

The Brazilian driver almost died from injuries he sustained in August 2006 after his Champ automobile hit a wandering deer during testing at Road America in Wisconsin.

Team owner Bob Stallings said he would pair da Matta with another former Champ Car winner, Jimmy Vasser, and wants to get him in a race as soon as the Grand-m Rolex Sports Cars Series event in May at Laguna Seca.

"He showed us enough to confirm that the comeback has begun," Stallings said. "If we can put together the right sponsor package, we can run him full time."

During his layoff, da Matta said he tried to remain sharp by driving go-karts and playing video games. He also underwent rigorous rehabilitation and several surgeries.

By the end of 2006, he reported feeling "99 percent" healed, though doctors advised him to wait unit this year to race again.

The testing was delayed last week for two days due to heavy rains, and da Matta drove on a wet and muddy track that the Stallings team had never raced on before.

Still, it appears da Matta could make a smooth transition from open-wheel driving to sports cars, and Stallings drivers expect him to have a significant impact.

"After a few outings on the race track, it also became obvious to all of us that he had lost none of his speed," Alex Gurney said. "If and when a deal comes together, he will make a great addition to this team."




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