Do you want Da Matta to race again?

Chatters · 24 Jan 2007, 12:29 (Ref:1824579)

You don't get hit by a deer in a Champ Car everyday. I can only imagine what Da Matta must've gone through in hospital and in his recovery... But, now that he's recovered, do you think Da Matta should start racing again, or do you think he should go into a semi-retirement, or should he stop racing completely?

mabs_nsx · 24 Jan 2007, 12:34 (Ref:1824586)

Yes I want him to return.

icemachine · 24 Jan 2007, 12:46 (Ref:1824605)

Yep. You gotta get back up on the horse.

Kieran20 · 24 Jan 2007, 13:43 (Ref:1824674)

He should return, great dsriver, no reason to stop. and yes i want him to return too

luke · 24 Jan 2007, 13:51 (Ref:1824693)

I think we all want him to return. Christian Fittipaldi and others had suffered similar accidents to that area and the guy who was helping him recover was very committed to getting him back to racing. I wish he could return, I just wish we had some news on him..

coyote9999 · 24 Jan 2007, 14:48 (Ref:1824751)

I agree with everyone but the real question is can he?

Phoenix1 · 24 Jan 2007, 18:12 (Ref:1824946)

Hope he can at least do a few demo/pace car laps would be a nice step whenever he is ready but whilst I'd love him to return I hope he makes the desicion that is right for him.

baclightning · 24 Jan 2007, 21:39 (Ref:1825166)

Frankly, no. I really admire him tremendously for making what seems to be a miraculous recovery, but I think his focus now should be on living a happy and fulfilling life, rather than getting back in a race car. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't a large part of his skull removed? I can't see him racing again, if that's true...

**Woolley** · 24 Jan 2007, 21:48 (Ref:1825173)

Interesting choice of question, and I can't answer what's written, rather I want him to be able to return, and I want the decision as to whether he actually does to be his alone. He's a good bloke and a quality driver. If he wants to stop I'll understand why, but I'll be disppointed if he has to stop.

Knowlesy · 24 Jan 2007, 21:54 (Ref:1825179)

Couldn't have put it any better Woolley.

mountainstar · 25 Jan 2007, 04:38 (Ref:1825368)

No I hope not as the possibility of another head injury is great.

Doc Hollywood · 25 Jan 2007, 06:26 (Ref:1825388)

I think if he can that he should. If he dosen't want to thats his choice, but I doubt that very much. He's a champion and that hunger has not likley subsided.

Pro Racer · 25 Jan 2007, 11:06 (Ref:1825544)

i would like hime to race again if he is able and can't say much more than what wooley already has.

f1manoz · 26 Jan 2007, 20:17 (Ref:1826785)

Last time I read anything on him, he said he was fit and healthy but was unsure about his future. Apparently it has caused him some problems that could impair his driving ability, and I'm sure someone like da Matta is smart enough to know to only come back at 100%.

Senna05 · 27 Jan 2007, 08:32 (Ref:1827004)

First time poster on the champcar thread. Good comments guys.

I think the choice might be taken out of his hands. If he has been given a direction by his doctor to not partake in activities that can cause head injuries, he will be "insured" out of race car driving.

Yes, you can rceive a sever trauma from just walking down the street, but the risk, particularly in open wheelers, is astronomically larger.

I'm just glad he has made a recovery. best ofluck to the guy and his family!

luke · 27 Jan 2007, 11:07 (Ref:1827071)

Welcome to the forum senna05

Suze · 27 Jan 2007, 18:45 (Ref:1827309)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolley

Interesting choice of question, and I can't answer what's written, rather I want him to be able to return, and I want the decision as to whether he actually does to be his alone. He's a good bloke and a quality driver. If he wants to stop I'll understand why, but I'll be disppointed if he has to stop.

As Knowles put, perfectly put.

I think it was in the thread about his recovery that I posted / agreed with someone that maybe he won't return to single seaters but could have a successful sportscar career. I would like to see him return, but at the end of the day it's all down to him. I wouldn't want this accident to have made the decision for him.

Boro · 2 Feb 2007, 03:33 (Ref:1831568)

CDM is doing better according to the source I talked to today. Still haven't drove anything yet (no karts, nevermind a car); sounded better than last month when he talked to him last.

Been riding bicycles.

Good to see good recovery; but not even a word of planning to return. Tho my source did say that he wouldn't rule it out. (I reckon those two are fairly close, as it was CDM who called the source on his cell phone)

luke · 2 Feb 2007, 09:44 (Ref:1831675)

Thanks for the update Boro.

MrTTraces · 2 Feb 2007, 10:17 (Ref:1831691)

From a general point of view, (depending on the extent of his injuries and the affects of them as a result) I think he could make a comeback, Alex Zanardi is a great example. If the after affects of his injuries are too severe then I doubt any doctor or medical staff would give him the green light to race again, however much he wanted to.

From a personal point of view I would not like to see him back racing, I think the risks are seriously higher this time around. Good health and family are more important.

Having said that I think he is a great abassador to the motorsport industry and I would like to see him back in management / director role for a big team or something along those lines.

mp356a · 5 Feb 2007, 19:13 (Ref:1834120)

Last I heard, he does not remember anything at all about the accident so it seems to me (yeah like I'm a psychologist, not) that there should be little, if any, affect on his driving. If he is fit and wants to race, then I also want him to race. So my answer is - yes.

Suze · 5 Feb 2007, 20:59 (Ref:1834202)

Just because he doesn't remember it though doesn't mean it won't / can't affect him - he'll sure remember what he's going through now and the knock-ons.

strider · 5 Feb 2007, 23:24 (Ref:1834312)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTTraces

From a personal point of view I would not like to see him back racing, I think the risks are seriously higher this time around. Good health and family are more important.

I second that completely. We might like to see him back on the race track but I think we are stumbling around in the dark and not fully understanding the nature of the injury he received. If you really want to know more, do a Google for 'subdural haematoma'.

Baritone2400 · 7 Feb 2007, 19:22 (Ref:1835685)

yes i do want to see him race but in a GT car, i feel he would be very effective in one of those series!

icemachine · 8 Aug 2007, 21:51 (Ref:1984447)

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/s...d=5&id=2966159

Quote:

The voice over the telephone was strong and clear, and the message was even clearer.

"It's going to be not too long until I'm back in a race car," Cristiano da Matta said as he waited in the Miami airport last Thursday for a flight that would carry him and his parents back to their native Brazil after a two-week holiday in the United States.

Quote:

"Of course, I'm not a doctor, I'm not a specialist, but I feel pretty normal," said the 2002 Champ Car champion. "I don't feel anything different. I feel just the way I used to feel.

"I'm actually excited about it because I'm getting closer and closer and closer."

But, being at the racetrack was not necessarily the best therapy for the former Formula One driver, and he won't attend this weekend's Champ Car race at Road America.

Hope you're back soon Cristiano, hope you do an interview for this weekends telecast

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