Cristiano da Matta critical after crash

By Phil Huff
August 4 2006

Cristiano da Matta, a former Toyota F1 driver, has been critically injured in a testing accident at the Road America circuit. The Brazilian, now racing in the Champ Cars series, was in collision with a deer.

Da Matta underwent emergency surgery for a subdural haematoma following the accident, which saw the RuSPORT driver collide with a deer that had wandered on to the track on the approach to turn six at the Road America course at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

According to NHS Direct, a subdural haematoma is a blood clot between on the outside of the brain. While small clots can cause nothing more serious than headaches and confusion, larger clots can cause serious brain damage and can even prove to be fatal.

"After arriving at Theda Clark Medical Center, a head CT scan showed Cristiano had suffered a subdural haematoma," explained Dr. Chris Pinderski, the Champ Car Director of Medical Affairs. "He was urgently taken to the operating room for surgical removal of the haematoma and is now being observed in the intensive care unit."

RuSPORT and their second driver Justin Wilson have left the open test session, electing to return to their Colorado base.

We are sure that you will join Totally Toyota F1 in wishing Cristiano a speedy recovery, and the best of luck for his future.