Cristiano's new ride

[Anteater]

For those who are wondering "Whatever became of Cristiano da Matta?", this article was posted online 5/6 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:


Cristiano da Matta gets back to racing - in Brazil

Ever wonder what happened to Cristiano da Matta?

After a near-fatal freak accident with a deer at Road America in 2006, da Matta made an amazing comeback to drive sports cars in '08.

With boundless determination, a compelling, feel-good story and proven results, da Matta seemed well-positioned to get back on track full-time. But as quickly as he resurfaced, da Matta was gone again.

He is racing again. Not in the United States, where he enjoyed his greatest success. And not in a sleek, low-slung, open-wheel car like those he drove to the 2002 Champ Car title or in his two seasons in Fórmula One.

Da Matta races semis, tall, snub-nosed beasts in which the driver sits upright, closer to the windshield than to the pavement below him.

The 36-year-old Brazilian is a rookie in Fórmula Truck, a series known in America by only the most worldly fans but that is one popular with manufacturers and spectators in da Matta's homeland.

His is not the only recognizable name on the Fórmula Truck entry list.

Bruno Junqueira, a three-time Champ Car series runner-up, also made his debut this season. Former Indy-car driver Felipe Giaffone has won two of the past three titles. Other regulars include former F1 and Champ car racer Gastón Mazzacane and Geraldo Piquet, the eldest son of three-time F1 champ Nelson Piquet.

Da Matta dropped in to see old friends this week while on vacation in the U.S.

He stopped at the Chicago-area headquarters of Newman/Haas Racing, the team with which he enjoyed the most success, and according to the team also at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, where he had been treated after his accident.

Now they know what da Matta has been up to. And so do we.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/autoracing/93040384.html

Here’s Cristiano in his new ride:
http://www.damattadesign.com/kiki/admin/arquivos/fotos/gr_507054.JPG
And more info...
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulatruck.com.br%2FPilotos%2 F35%2Fcristiano-da-matta.aspx

It'd be fun to watch him race one of those! :)

[SteveH]

I was one of those wondering. :thumbup:

[BarillaGirl]

I'm so happy he's back and racing again. My kids know him as the racer that we prayed for every night for what seemed like forever. I must have left well wishes on a website or someplace, because after he recovered, we got the nicest little card in the mail.

Is anyone else remembering his bit in the CART promos? "I weigh 115 pounds soaking wet and I can KICK YOUR @$$!" :thumbup:

[Don Quixote]

Thanks for the update. :thumbup:

[Methanolandbrats]

He doesn't have to worry about deer anymore driving that Bambi squasher. :D

[Anteater]

Cristiano's family saved all of his get-well cards, and mailed those neat little cards to everyone who'd sent him a card! Mine arrived just before Thanksgiving that year, and Kiki's recovery was definitely included in my list of things for which I was thankful. What a miracle to see him recover and go on to enjoy a normal life!

Are you thinking of this ad?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMKmt1oHu30

[oddlycalm]

Thanks for posting the update Anteater. Nothing more fun than a 10 wheel drift at 100mph+ :cool:

Back before SPEED was sold to Murdoch (and became choked with shows pandering to stupid rednecks) we used to be able to watch class 6 truck races from Europe. Fun stuff :thumbup:

oc

[BarillaGirl]

Are you thinking of this ad?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMKmt1oHu30

That's the one! I loved that.

[Indy]

Ah, that video makes me want to weep.